The Not-Your-Average-Mall-Koi-Pond Drained

Can you imagine having a koi pond filled with 3,000 fish? Visitors at the New World Mall in Bangkok can. But this once-proud, 11-story mall is a case of koi pond by accident.

Officials closed the mall in 1997 after determining 7 floors had been constructed illegally. A fire two years later collapsed the structure’s roof, and rainwater eventually turned it into a 1,600 sq.ft. pond. Complete with mosquitos.

Natural Beauty

To combat the growing insect problem, locals introduced various types of fish, including koi. Nature took its course, and the former mall became a thriving ecosystem complete with an estimated 3,000 fish.

After a fire and almost 20 years of natural entropy, the ironically-named mall now looks like something straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie. For more than 15 years, it remained relatively unbothered. But that changed courtesy of a story shared through social media in 2013. The story, complete with directions, drew thousands of tourists who were willing to brave the structural damage to see the tranquil scene it held.

The newfound popularity attracted more than just casual observers. Major news outlets like the Huffington Post and CNN picked up the story about the unintentional attraction.

Drained

However, another byproduct of the international interest was the renewed attention of the Bangkok authorities, who were concerned with the potential danger the structure could pose to law-breaking visitors.

According to the Citylab.com website, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration eventually got around to deeming the structure unsafe. As a result, the pond is being drained and the koi, tilapia and other species relocated into waterways around Thailand.

Though koi enthusiasts would probably agree that an abandoned mall does not make the ideal pond, it still created a one-of-a-kind instance that koi keepers can appreciate. So although draining the pond is perhaps the safest course of action, it is saddening that this unique setting won’t last.

Whether you have a mall-sized pond or something a little more modest, Next Day Koi has the koi fish available to cover your needs. From Gosanke to Goshiki, and almost everything in between, we sell koi raised from some of the industry’s top sources. We also offer a selection of fish food and have competitive Next Day Air shipping rates to get your quality koi into your pond or tank in no time at all.