Interview with
Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne

  

For decades, a single gorilla, along with a couple of hundred other animals, has lived in near-isolation on the 7th floor inside a shopping mall zoo in Bangkok. Known as Bua Noi, her story has drawn international attention, celebrity advocacy, and repeated calls for her release; yet she remains where she is.

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Among those working behind the scenes to change that is Free The Wild, co-founded by Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne. While public campaigns had kept Bua Noi’s name in circulation her story is now fading and far less is understood about what has actually happened behind closed doors: the negotiations, the challenges encountered along the way, and the realities of trying to secure her freedom.

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In this interview, Gina offers insight into how the effort began, the complexities of engaging with Pata Zoo’s owners and Thai authorities, and why, despite years of attention, Bua Noi’s situation remains unresolved. Thank you for taking the time to share Free The Wild’s involvement in trying to secure the release of Bua Noi and the other animals from Pata Zoo.

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Tell us about Free The Wild, how did it first form, and how did you become involved?

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In 2015, Cher became aware of Kaavan, an Asian elephant, suffering in captive isolation in Islamabad Zoo, Pakistan through an influx of Social Media posts about his captivity and mistreatment. Cher was already advocating for Billy, the elephant at LA Zoo and she was keen to help Kaavan.

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We (Cher, Mark Cowne and myself) founded Free The Wild, working with Team Kaavan and local advocates as a unified front to create change and rescue Kaavan. It took us five years of hard negotiation with the Pakistan Government to have Kaavan freed.

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Can you take us back to when Free The Wild first became aware of Bua Noi’s situation, what specifically compelled you to get involved, and what were your initial objectives? What steps did you take to independently establish the facts around her conditions and legal status?

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A lady by the name of Sinjira Apaitan reached out to us following Kaavan’s rescue and relocation to Cambodia, asking if we could do something to assist Bua Noi. We learnt about the history of Pata Zoo and Bua Noi’s then 35-year incarceration there. We obtained up-to-date information and confirmed Bua Noi’s situation. In so doing, we also became aware of the hundreds of other animals, including the orangutangs, held at the zoo and were deeply moved by their situation. Bua Noi gets all the attention, but the reality is that there are dozens of primates and other animals, in equally, if not worse conditions than Bua Noi.

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With that, we reached out to the owner of the zoo, Kanit Sermsirimongkol, to arrange to meet in person and discuss the options to relocate the gorilla and other animals to appropriate sanctuaries.

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Please share Free the Wild’s journey in working towards their release. It is important for people to understand the complexities involved and how important diplomacy is in these negotiations.

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There are few situations in conservation that test patience, diplomacy and cultural understanding quite like the story of Bua Noi. For Free The Wild, this has never been a simple campaign. It has been a long and carefully considered effort, shaped by years of conversations, proposals, setbacks and renewed attempts to find a path that works for everyone involved, most importantly for Kanit Sermsirimongkol and his family.

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From the very beginning in 2020, Free The Wild’s approach was grounded in dialogue rather than confrontation. Early discussions, led by Free The Wild Director, Anika Sleem, made it clear that Kanit’s primary concern was not only financial, but Bua Noi’s welfare. There was a deeply held belief that relocating the gorilla, particularly outside of Thailand, could expose her to stress, illness and potentially fatal complications. This concern became a defining factor in how every subsequent proposal was shaped.

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At that stage, respected organisations such as The Aspinall Foundation, represented by Amos Courage, stepped forward with meaningful offers. They proposed not only to facilitate Bua Noi’s transfer to a sanctuary in Gabon, but to cover all veterinary care, logistics and transportation costs. A formal financial offer was also made as part of this effort. However, it quickly became apparent that the offer was not substantial enough and international relocation was not aligned with Kanit’s wishes.

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By mid 2020, further insight suggested that Kanit might be open to parting with Bua Noi under certain conditions, with an informal valuation being discussed. At the same time, discussions began to shift toward a more culturally aligned solution. Through Free the Wild’s engagement with local experts, including Edwin Wiek of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, the possibility of relocating Bua Noi and the other primates to a sanctuary within Thailand emerged as a far more viable and respectful option.

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This marked an important turning point. The conversation was no longer about removing animals from Thailand, but about enhancing their environment within it.

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Toward the end of 2020, Free The Wild, began developing a more holistic proposal. This was not limited to animal relocation. It sought to support Kanit personally and professionally. Ideas included relocating the animals at Pata Zoo to a sanctuary in Thailand, potentially repositioning Pata Mall, offering him international recognition and even extending a personal invitation for Kanit to meet with Cher personally, as a gesture of respect and goodwill. The intention was clear, we offered Kanit a legacy type outcome for him and his family as we understood he would not want to lose income or reputation. The legacy positioning would allow for public recognition of Kanit’s good intentions, making it clear of his cooperation by allowing Bua Noi a ceremonial “retirement” and allowing for media to show his part in the solution. We suggested that transitioning the animals from Pata Zoo into a wildlife sanctuary would position Thailand as a considerate and forward-thinking society. Any relocation to a recognised sanctuary would be seen not as a loss, but as a dignified and celebrated decision led by Kanit himself.

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At the same time, we worked closely with partners to address the technical and logistical concerns surrounding such a relocation. The need for credible, expert backed reassurance became evident, particularly in countering the belief that zoo raised animals could not adapt to more natural environments.

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Throughout 2021, coordination efforts continued with key figures in Thailand, including Lek Chailert, whose longstanding work in animal welfare provided valuable local insight. Free The Wild also began cautiously communicating publicly, indicating that viable homes had been identified for the animals, pending Kanit’s approval.

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By 2022, efforts expanded into our formal engagement with government bodies. Through the support of our NGO partner, the Jane Goodall Institute, meetings were arranged with representatives of Thailand’s Department of National Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. That July, a significant milestone was reached when we participated in a Zoom meeting with government ministers and senior officials. During this meeting, Free The Wild formally reiterated its intention to relocate Bua Noi and the other primates and was invited to submit a detailed proposal for Kanit’s consideration.

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In parallel, a direct appeal was prepared from Cher, designed not as pressure, but as a respectful message to both Kanit and the Thai Government. This appeal outlined a vision in which Kanit would be recognised for his role in enabling a positive outcome, including the possibility of establishing a wildlife centre in his family’s name.

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However, progress during this period was complicated by mixed signals. While some reports suggested that Kanit was open to discussions involving financial terms, others, including statements from Pata Zoo itself, denied that any negotiations were taking place. At one point, widely circulated figures regarding a potential sale created confusion and risked undermining the collaborative tone that had been carefully developed. Faced with these challenges, Free The Wild made a conscious decision to step back from any narrative that could be perceived as confrontational. The focus returned to quiet diplomacy and relationship building.

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In early 2023, further discussions highlighted the legal complexities of the situation. Advice from in country contacts suggested that existing laws might not be sufficient to compel change, while others pointed to legislation that could be used to apply pressure if necessary. Despite these differing views, Free The Wild remained committed to pursuing a cooperative solution rather than a purely legal one.

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At this stage, a final strategic direction was agreed. A visit to Thailand would be arranged to assess sanctuary options firsthand, with a renewed offer to facilitate relocation within the country. At the same time, preparations were made to increase public awareness if required, though always with the intention of encouraging dialogue rather than creating division.

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In mid 2023, collaboration with Steven Galster of Freeland brought further clarity to the government’s position. It became evident that officials were concerned about two key risks. The possibility of legal action and the fear that Bua Noi might not survive relocation. These concerns were taken seriously.

In response, Free The Wild worked with experts to develop a comprehensive technical document addressing the safety of transporting captive primates. This document drew on established practices and successful case studies and was intended for submission to the relevant Thai authorities to provide reassurance at the highest level.

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At the same time, Cher’s video message was translated into Thai with the support of Freeland, ensuring that its tone and intent could be clearly understood by government officials and advisors.

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Despite these efforts, progress remained slow. Changes in government personnel, shifting priorities and ongoing concerns about liability created a cautious environment in which decisive action proved difficult. Yet Free The Wild did not step away.

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In 2025, a renewed formal appeal was drafted, incorporating new evidence, including the successful relocation of a zoo born gorilla to Africa by The Aspinall Foundation. This case directly addressed one of the central concerns that had persisted since the beginning. That animals like Bua Noi could not adapt to new environments.

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Now, in 2026, public attention has once again turned toward Bua Noi through international media coverage, including the recent release of the podcast *Behind the Glass: Bangkok’s Loneliest Gorilla*. While awareness is important, Free The Wild recognises that lasting progress will not come from public pressure alone. It will come from trust.

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This is why we are choosing to speak now, not to revisit past disagreements, but to acknowledge the full journey and to open the door once more.

We hope Kanit will read this personal message to him because the door is still open:  Throughout this process, your concerns have been heard and respected. Your commitment to your animals has never been in question. The care you have shown in protecting them from perceived risks has shaped every proposal we have put forward. Today, we believe there is a clear and respectful path forward; A relocation of Bua Noi and the other animals to a sanctuary within Thailand is not only essential, given the derelict state of Pata Mall and its sole attraction, Pata Zoo, but also totally viable as Free the Wild and our founder Cher remain committed.  The project will be supported by experienced partners. It will be fully funded and managed with the highest standards of veterinary care and designed in a way that allows you and your family to remain connected to your animals and to be recognised for making a decision that reflects your compassion, care and leadership.

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This is not about looking back. It is about looking ahead.

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All of us at Free The Wild stand ready, as we always have, to support the animals at Pata Zoo and its owners in making this relocation possible. After years of effort, dialogue and reflection, we believe that moment is now.

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We remain hopeful that, together, we can take this final step.

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And finally, looking back on your involvement in Bua Noi’s case, what has this experience revealed about the broader challenges of negotiating better outcomes for captive wild animals, particularly in Thailand, and what changes do you believe are most needed to prevent similar situations in the future?

 

The question is complicated with a deceptively simple answer. However, despite the solution’s simplicity it is also virtually impossible to implement: There needs to be shift in cultural, educational, legal and governmental policy that empowers the importance and rights of animals.

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Gina, thank you so much for sharing this on-going journey with us. We hope that Kanit will finally listen to your message and agree to do what is best for all the animals in the zoo; each deserve better and enriched environments.

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For those of you reading this it is vital to understand that in this case an aggressive approach when requesting Kanit listen and respond to our pleas for Bua Noi will not work, it stops negotiations from moving forward. Therefore if you do reach out to Pata Zoo please do so politely and in a non-confrontational way. While accountability needs to be addressed, right now the welfare of all 200+ animals must be our priority.