• A 5-month-old gorilla named Zeytin was rescued from a cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines plane.
• Zeytin was discovered on a flight from Nigeria to Thailand, transiting through Istanbul.
• The endangered gorilla is recuperating at Polonezkoy Zoo and showing signs of recovery.
• Wildlife officials are evaluating the possibility of returning him to his natural habitat.
• Istanbul has become a key location for intercepting illegally traded animals.

A young gorilla named Zeytin, meaning Olive, is recovering at Polonezkoy Zoo in Istanbul after being rescued from a Turkish Airlines flight cargo hold. The 5-month-old gorilla was found in a box during a flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month as it transited through the city. As he regains strength, wildlife officers are contemplating a return to his natural habitat, emphasizing the need for a safe environment for his future.
“Of course, what we want and desire is for the baby gorilla … to continue its life in its homeland,” stated Fahrettin Ulu, the regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, highlighting the importance of a secure setting if a return is feasible.

Since being rescued, Zeytin has gained weight and his behavior has notably improved. “When he first came, he was very shy and would stay where we left him,” said veterinarian Gulfem Esmen. “He doesn’t have that shyness now; he plays games by himself.” Both western and eastern gorillas, which inhabit the remote forests and mountains of central Africa, are classified as endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Due to Istanbul's role as a major air transit hub, authorities have increasingly intercepted illegally traded wildlife. In a notable case last October, customs officials confiscated 17 young Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards from an Egyptian passenger’s luggage at Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

For more details, visit the original articles on The Guardian and CNN.