A young gorilla, rescued from the cargo hold of a plane, is now recovering at a zoo in Istanbul, according to officials on Sunday. Wildlife authorities are considering returning the animal to its natural habitat.
The 5-month-old gorilla was found in a box aboard a Turkish Airlines flight that had arrived from Nigeria and was headed to Thailand last month. After a public competition, the gorilla was named Zeytin, meaning Olive, and is currently being cared for at the Polonezkoy Zoo.
Fahrettin Ulu, the regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, stated on Sunday that the ultimate goal is for the baby gorilla to live in its native environment.
Zeytin, the young gorilla rescued from a plane’s cargo hold, is gradually recovering at an Istanbul zoo, with wildlife officials now focusing on ensuring his safe return to his natural habitat. Fahrettin Ulu, the regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, emphasized the importance of providing Zeytin with a secure environment once he is relocated.
Since being found, Zeytin has gained weight and shown signs of recovery from his stressful journey. Veterinarian Gulfem Esmen noted that when he first arrived, the gorilla was very shy, staying in one spot. However, Zeytin has since become more independent, now playing by himself and showing less concern for human interaction.
Both the western and eastern gorilla species, native to central Africa’s forests and mountains, are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As Istanbul continues to grow as an international travel hub, customs officials have been increasingly successful in intercepting illegally traded animals. In October, authorities seized 17 young Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards found in the luggage of an Egyptian passenger at the city’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport.