A 5-month-old gorilla, named Zeytin or Olive after a public competition, is recovering at Istanbul’s Polonezkoy Zoo after being rescued from a plane’s cargo hold. The young primate was found in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month.
Zeytin has gained weight and shown signs of recovery since his discovery, according to veterinarian Gulfem Esmen. Initially shy, he now plays games by himself and shows no fear towards zoo staff.
Conservation efforts are underway to determine if Zeytin can be returned to his natural habitat in central Africa, where both western and eastern gorillas are classified as endangered species.
As Istanbul’s airport increases interceptions of illegally traded animals, the incident highlights the city’s role as a major air hub for wildlife trafficking.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/young-gorilla-rescued-aircraft-hold-recovers-istanbul-zoo-117600555