A five-month-old baby gorilla recently rescued from a cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines flight is thriving in Istanbul's Polonezkoy Zoo. Named Zeytin, which means "Olive" in English, this young gorilla captured the public's heart following a naming competition organized by Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Zeytin was discovered in a crate aboard a Turkish Airlines flight on December 21, while en route from Nigeria to Thailand.

Since his rescue, wildlife authorities have expressed hopes of eventually returning Zeytin to his natural habitat. Fahrettin Ulu, the regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, stated, “Of course, what we want and desire is for the baby gorilla to continue its life in its homeland," emphasizing the necessity of a safe environment for his transition back to the wild.

Initially timid upon arrival, Zeytin's health has improved remarkably. As veterinarian Gulfem Esmen observed, “When he first came, he was very shy... he doesn’t even care about us much. He plays games by himself.” This transformation marks a significant step forward in his recovery process.

Both western and eastern gorilla species are endangered, as noted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Istanbul has seen an uptick in intercepted illegally trafficked wildlife, including other incidents involving reptiles. Such discoveries underscore the pressing need for conservation efforts.

To read more about Zeytin's journey, visit USA Today.