'World's loneliest gorilla' set to spend another Christmas behind bars

A gorilla that has been labelled the 'world's loneliest' of its kind is set to spend another Christmas behind bars.

Bua Noi, a 33-year-old gorilla, has been left in a cage at the controversial Pata Zoo in Thailand for over 30 years, since she was one.

The cage is placed directly above a supermarket in the Asian country, and any attempts to get her out have been unsuccessful so far.

For many years, countless efforts from international campaign groups and even celebrities such as Cher have tried to get her out - but the efforts have been in vain so far.

dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo

In October, the animal's owner said that he would only release the lonely ape if he was paid up to £700,000.

As per The Sun, PETA Asia’s Senior Vice President Jason Baker, who has been campaigning for Bua Noi's release since 2012, said: "Bua Noi the gorilla is suffering from extreme psychological distress in the concrete enclosure to which she has been confined alone for nearly 40 years, longer than most Thai people have been alive.

"PETA has offered multiple times to transfer her and all the other animals at Pata Zoo to reputable sanctuaries, where they would have trees to climb, grass to roll in, and other animals to socialise with."

"This shabby facility is internationally condemned as one of the worst zoos in the world.

"All the animals held captive there are confined to pitifully small, barren enclosures and denied sunshine, fresh air, and opportunities to exercise or engage in behaviour that’s meaningful to them."

The distress caused by three decades in the cage for Bua Noi has been evident to see, especially in a 2019 report.

ZUMA Press Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

In that, you could see the gorilla was pulling her own hair out and anxiously moving around the cage.

There is also footage of her rolling around of her looking visibly depressed in her cage as she looks through the bars in boredom.

PETA's Jason Baker added: "Every animal at Pata Zoo is enduring a life sentence – something not handed to even the hardest Thai criminals – for simply being different to humans.

"But they could have a meaningful life if they were transferred to a facility that would provide the mental stimulation and physical comfort of the naturalistic environment they need."