A five-month-old gorilla discovered in the hold of a Turkish Airlines flight last month is recovering at an Istanbul zoo while authorities decide where he should live next.
The little primate was found in a box on a flight from Nigeria to Thailand that passed through Istanbul, reports the Associated Press. His name was Zeytin, or Olive, in one public competition.
For now, he remains in the care of Polonezkoy Zoo in Istanbul, and wildlife officials say he could be returned to his natural habitat.
“Of course, what we want and desire is for the baby gorilla… continue his life in his homeland“, Fahrettin Ulu, regional director of nature conservation and national parks in Istanbul, told the AP on Sunday.
“What is important is that an absolutely safe environment is established where it is sent, which is extremely important to us.”
A veterinarian supervising Zeytin is optimistic about his recovery at the zoo and said he is showing improvement since arriving after the traumatic ordeal.
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“When he arrived, he was very shy, he stayed where we left him,” said veterinarian Gulfem Esmen. “He doesn’t have that shyness anymore. He doesn’t even care much about us. He plays games by himself.
According to Metro UK, the gorilla was found in a small wooden box by customs officers from the Turkish Ministry of Commerce, who had tracked the shipment as part of its wildlife protection efforts.
An endangered baby gorilla, found by Turkish authorities at Istanbul airport, is seen in a box on December 22, 2024.
Turkish Ministry of Commerce / Document/Anadolu via Getty Images
He was found wearing a white T-shirt and was taken into the care of the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
A ministry spokesperson said: “The little one is doing well. It was confiscated during customs checks while being transported illegally without proper documentation.
A baby gorilla, found by Turkish authorities at Istanbul airport, plays with toys in Istanbul, Turkey, January 12, 2025.
Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty Images
“The staff of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks ensures the necessary rehabilitation and care.”
“The gorilla remains under close observation to ensure its recovery,” they added.
Zeytin, a five-month-old male gorilla rescued at Istanbul airport, reacts with a keeper in a specially created section of a zoo, in Istanbul, Turkey, January 12, 2025.
Khalil Hamra / Associated Press
“Rehabilitation experts are working diligently to help the gorilla regain strength and health. Their care aims to provide a safe environment for the well-being of the animal.
Both gorilla species – the western and eastern gorillas, which inhabit the remote forests and mountains of central Africa – are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
As Istanbul emerges as a major air hub between continents, customs officials are intercepting more and more illegally traded animals. Last October, 17 young Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards were discovered in the luggage of an Egyptian passenger at the city’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
— With files from the Associated Press
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