Hidden inside a rundown shopping mall in Bangkok, Pata Zoo has long been a subject of controversy and debate. To some visitors, it may seem like a curious tourist attraction—an unexpected place to see wild animals up close. But to many animal welfare advocates, it’s a grim symbol of how far human entertainment can stray from compassion.
Unlike sprawling wildlife parks or sanctuaries, Pata Zoo is small, confined, and completely indoors. The animals live behind glass walls or metal bars, far from anything resembling their natural habitats. One of the most infamous residents is Bua Noi, a female gorilla who has been living in captivity here for decades, alone in a concrete enclosure high above the bustling streets below. Her sad eyes have become a haunting emblem for those calling for the zoo’s closure.
The cramped conditions are not limited to the gorilla. Birds, reptiles, monkeys, and big cats are kept in enclosures that offer little space for movement or enrichment. Visitors peer in through smudged glass, often snapping photos without realizing the toll such confinement can take on an animal’s physical and mental well-being. For creatures built to roam vast forests or soar through open skies, life in such limited quarters can lead to boredom, stress, and depression.
Animal rights groups have been campaigning for years to shut Pata Zoo down, arguing that keeping wild animals in such restrictive spaces is inhumane. They have urged that the animals be relocated to sanctuaries where they can live in more natural environments, free from the constant noise of the mall and the stares of shoppers.
Despite the criticism, the zoo continues to operate, citing compliance with local regulations and claiming that their animals receive proper care. The owners insist that the animals are healthy and that the facility provides educational value to the public. However, the growing chorus of opposition questions whether “education” can truly be achieved when the lesson being taught is one of exploitation rather than respect.
The heart of the debate lies in a single question: should wild animals ever be kept in such unnatural and isolated environments for the sake of human curiosity? For many, the answer is no—and Pata Zoo stands as a stark example of why.
Whether you see it as an outdated relic of the past or a harmless tourist spot, the reality remains that behind those glass walls are living beings whose lives are far removed from the freedom they deserve. And until the doors close or the animals are relocated, the ethical shadow hanging over Pata Zoo will remain impossible to ignore.
