By Mark McConville

 

SHOCKING images and video footage has revealed the world’s saddest zoo as animals are held captive on the highest floor of a shopping centre.

Poor conditions.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

The disturbing video shows a distressed-looking gorilla rolling around his tiny enclosure, a big cat pacing up and down a small space and sheep crammed into a fenced area much too small for them.

Sheep.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

Other heartbreaking pictures show a fed-up Hornbill, a white monkey who seems to be pleading for help and the dilapidated nature of the zoo.

Porcupine.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

The distressing footage and photographs were taken at Pata Zoo in Bangkok, Thailand by freelance journalist Julian King.

Orangutan.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

“On the highest floor of a shopping mall these animals are held captive for over 30 years living in horrible conditions,” he said.

Pata Zoo is on the top floor of a shopping centre.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

“Bua Noi (the gorilla) – meaning little lotus in Thai – has been living a nightmare since 1983. She is enclosed on the sixth floor and has never set foot outside since then.

Gorilla.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

“Animal protection laws are practically non-existent in Thailand, and those that do exist are extremely vague, making them difficult to enforce.”

Ferret.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

Bua Noi was captured from the wild when she was just a baby, and she’s lived in a barred cage by herself ever since. While there had been previous efforts to rescue Bua Noi and transfer her to a sanctuary, she’s sadly still there.

Gorilla at cage.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

This wouldn’t be the first time Pata Zoo has received negative press for its mistreatment of animals, so it may come as a surprise that the zoo remains open. In 2014, Thailand even introduced an animal welfare law that technically protects animals against this kind of facility — but the law isn’t always enforced.

White monkey.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

Despite the ongoing challenges of helping animals in Thailand, animal welfare advocates are still hoping that Pata Zoo will eventually close down.

Pata Zoo.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

“The Pata Zoo is a disgrace for all legitimate zoos in Thailand,” Edwin Wiek, director and founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, previously said in an interview.

Cat in cage.
Julian King / mediadrumworld.com

 

“The animal welfare and safety at Pata Zoo are way below even Thailand’s standards. Historically, the zoo was founded by a notorious wildlife trader and this facility does not fit in the world of 2018. We can’t wait for authorities to finally close it down.”