A baby gorilla smuggled on a flight from Nigeria to Thailand has been rescued in Turkey, where it is now recovering at an Istanbul zoo.
The 5-month-old gorilla, later named Zeytin (meaning Olive), was found last month inside a box in the cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines flight during a stopover in Istanbul. Wildlife officials are considering returning the gorilla to its natural habitat in Africa.
“We want the baby gorilla to continue its life in its homeland,” said Fahrettin Ulu, Istanbul’s regional director of Nature Conservation and National Parks. “But it’s essential to ensure the environment it goes to is completely safe.”
Zeytin is currently under the care of experts at Polonezkoy Zoo in Istanbul. The zoo’s veterinarian, Gulfem Esmen, shared that the young gorilla has made significant progress since his traumatic journey.
“When he first arrived, he was very shy and stayed where we left him,” Esmen said. “Now, he plays by himself and doesn’t pay much attention to us anymore.”
Zeytin has gained weight and is gradually overcoming the stress of being trafficked.
Gorillas, both western and eastern species, are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These primates are native to central Africa’s forests and mountains, making their trafficking a critical conservation issue.
Istanbul, a major air hub connecting continents, has become a hotspot for intercepting illegally traded animals. In recent months, Turkish customs officials have stepped up efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.
In October, officials at Sabiha Gokcen Airport seized 17 young Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards hidden in an Egyptian passenger’s luggage.
Authorities are working with conservation organizations to decide the best course of action for Zeytin, with the goal of eventually returning him to the wild.
