Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market Sells Sick, Suffering Animals Like Toys

Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market—one of the largest  in the world—is a bustling tourist destination. But tucked in among the colorful stalls and endless rows of souvenir shops, greedy people exploit and sell animals as if they were toys and trinkets inside the market’s notorious “pet zone .”

In 2024, a fire ripped through the market, killing over 1,000 animals who were trapped in cages with no way to escape the searing flames. Their deaths went largely unnoticed, and now business is back to normal. The animals have been replaced, the cages refilled, and the cruelty persists unchecked. Their short lives mean nothing to those who continue to cash in.

Sick, Dying Animals for Sale
PETA’s recent investigation revealed thousands of reptiles, birds, mammals, and exotic animals languishing in cramped, filthy cages. Many of them were visibly sick and suffering. In one instance, investigators found live animals locked in a cage alongside a dead one.

What’s more, this cesspit reportedly functions as a pipeline for the illegal wildlife trade. In 2024, officials at an airport in Turkey intercepted a baby gorilla en route to Bangkok. The shipment was believed to be linked to the Chatuchak Market.

When trappers kidnap animals from their homes, the terrified, disoriented animals often change hands several times through intermediaries and exporters, enduring grueling transport conditions along the way. Those who arrive at the market alive may be sold to people who lack the knowledge—or ability—to care for them. Many die from lack of proper care, or the people who bought them abandon them outdoors, where they starve or fall victim to the elements or predators. If they do survive, they may wreak havoc on the ecosystem.

Chatuchak Market isn’t just disastrous for other animals; it’s also a public health risk. The filthy, unregulated conditions are a breeding ground for zoonotic diseases that infected animals can spread to humans. The COVID-19 pandemic should have been a global wake-up call, yet this and other live animal markets continue.

PETA is calling on the governor of Bangkok to shut down the “pet zone” now, while the market is undergoing renovations. This window of opportunity won’t last.

How You Can Help

• Do not visit Chatuchak Market. Every tourist who enters fuels demand and normalizes exploitation.
• Tell your hotel, tour guides, and other travelers what is happening and urge them to shun the market. Tourism is a powerful part of Thailand’s economy, and public pressure can drive change.
• Never buy “exotic” animals—or any animals—from a pet store or breeder. If you are prepared to care for a cat, dog, or other animal companion for life, please always adopt them.