A 5-month-old gorilla rescued from a plane’s cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo, Turkey, as officials discuss plans to potentially return him to his natural habitat. The gorilla, discovered last month in a box aboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand, has been named Zeytin, meaning “Olive,” following a public naming competition. He is currently recuperating at Polonezkoy Zoo.
“Our ultimate goal is for the baby gorilla to continue its life in its homeland,” said Fahrettin Ulu, regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, on Sunday. “What’s crucial is ensuring an absolutely safe environment wherever it goes.”
Since his rescue, Zeytin has gained weight and shown signs of recovery from his ordeal. “When he first arrived, he was shy and stayed where we left him,” explained veterinarian Gulfem Esmen. “Now, he’s no longer shy. He plays games by himself and doesn’t seem to mind our presence.”
Both western and eastern gorillas, native to central Africa’s remote forests and mountains, are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Istanbul’s position as a key air travel hub between continents has made it a focal point for wildlife trafficking interceptions. In October, customs officials at Sabiha Gokcen Airport found 17 Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards hidden in an Egyptian passenger’s luggage.
