Bangkok:- Officials yesterday conducted a search at a vast place in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district following reports that a chimpanzee was forced to live in poor conditions there.

During the search, they found a male chimp inside a small cage that was just two metres wide and 2.5 metres high. The move follows an online campaign on change.org, which gathers the signatures of people who call for the rescue of the animal. The list of signatures was submitted to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation last week.

Jira Smithichote, 68, yesterday came forward and identified himself as the chimp’s owner. It is around 30 years old.

“This is Canoe. It has been with me since it was still a kid,” Jira said, “I’ve got it from a friend”.

His place, which used to host the Smithichote School, spans over 16 rai. Canoe, however, has been locked in the cage because Jira believes it is easier to care for this pet.

Thiradej Palasuwan, an official from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, has now instructed Jira to enlarge the case for Canoe and provide it with toys. According to him, the cage must be at least six metres high and spans over at least 185.6 square metres.

“We will come back to check on the animal every three months. We will issue a warning if we find that he fails to comply with the order. After three warnings, we will seize the chimpanzee,” Thiradej said.

Jira said he would soon make a decision on whether to keep Canoe or to give it to the department.

The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand and its allies say they will follow up with this case.

The owner lives in Thailand. Chimps are native to a few areas in sub-Saharan Africa. The owner explains owning the chimp away saying he "got it from a friend". The chimp has been kept in a tiny cage for 30 years. The National Parks Dept. say, "Oh that's okay, we'll check every 3 months."

Buddhists won't put an animal down but they are quite happy to allow it to needlessly suffer.