Last month, a juvenile gorilla was found onboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand. Officials believe the gorilla was being trafficked for the illegal wildlife trade, finding the 5-month-old ape in a box within the plane’s cargo hold at Istanbul Airport. The Polonezkoy Zoo in Istanbul agreed to care for the youngster, which they named Zeytin, meaning Olive.
Zeytin has been recovering for several weeks, and his caretakers hope to return him home soon. As an endangered species, it’s particularly crucial that Zeytin return home to reproduce and be reunited with his family. However, Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks won’t release Zeytin until they are assured of a safe journey and homeland environment.
