Cher fights to free Bangkok’s ‘King Kong’ from rooftop cage

Cher has launched a campaign to rehome a gorilla who lives in a cage above a shopping centre in Thailand.

Bua Noi, whose name means Little Lotus, has lived on top of the department store at Pata Zoo in Bangkok since 1990.

The gorilla – marketed as the country’s King Kong – has not had contact with another member of her species for more than 10 years, according to The Sunday Times.

Cher, who recently helped liberate “the world’s loneliest elephant” in Pakistan, has joined campaigners in calling for Bua Noi and the other 300 animals that live at the zoo – which opened in 1982 – to be moved to sanctuaries.

On seeing the elephant she campaigned to rescue, Cher said: "To see Kaavan free, happy and touching trunks with his new neighbours in Cambodia was probably the happiest moment in my life other than having my children.”

“His mental well-being is already greatly improved. The difference is truly remarkable. I am so proud of what we at Free the Wild accomplished.

“I implore the Thai government to seriously take a leaf out of Pakistan’s book and consider not only freeing Bua Noi but shutting down this so called zoo."

The singer is working with Free the Wild, a group she helped set up, and the Aspinall Foundation to get the 32-year-old gorilla and other animals at the zoo transferred to a sanctuary in the Congo.

In an open letter FTW co-founder Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne said: "I can also advise that we have a rescue centre ready to accept the three Orangutans, the Bonobo and the smaller primates held at the zoo. 

“The  centre runs rescue and rehabilitation programmes and has veterinary assistance for all the animals in their care, making their centre an ideal home.”

The campaigners have written a letter to Varawut Silpa-Archa, the environment minister, asking for his help.

However, the owner of the zoo, Kanit Sermsirimongkol, said the stress of a move could kill Bua Noi.