Destinations Known | ‘Hell on earth’: Zoo in Thailand long accused of animal abuse finally closes, but what will happen to the animals?
- Phuket Zoo’s closure was brought about by a lack of custom during the Covid-19 pandemic, but many believe it should have shut down long ago for ethical reasons
- The tigers, bears and elephants will all be moved to new homes - though funds are still required - but the fate of the other ‘inmates’ remains unknown
“Victory” declared the headline on a December 23 news report posted on the Peta Asia website. “Phuket Zoo Is Finally Closing Its Doors.”
Financial troubles brought about by the lack of custom during the Covid-19 pandemic has been the reason given by the owner for closing the zoo, but if the many reports of animal abuse are to be believed, it should have been shut down long ago, for ethical reasons.
Even if you discount the September claim by a John S – his only apparent contribution to TripAdvisor – that he visited the zoo and witnessed a dying monkey being forced to smoke a cigarette, comments from many others on the travel advice website paint a grim picture.
“On 1st steps into this place you are greeted with a sense of despair,” wrote Gretchen Y, in March 2020. “The 5 tigers weren’t drugged however were chained as were the 2 elephants whose daily task was to play soccer for the audience. The staff here were ALL on their asses playing with their phones!!! NO initiative to clean or tidy or give fresh water to animals.”
The damnation continues for page after page: “Crocodiles show was on 2 men dragging them into filthy green water and putting sticks in their mouths forcing their mouths open” (teddyEssex, December 2019); “I saw a worker punch an orangutan in the back, elephants chained up going crazy, and the worker pinching its ear. Otters barely have any water and it’s SO DIRTY. SICK!!!!!” (Victoria63Travel, July 2019); “So so disappointed to see the bad conditions the animals live in, with one of my kids so upset that she started to cry!” (Flori G, December 2019).
