The five-month-old gorilla, who was found in the cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines flight last month, is recovering at a zoo in Istanbul while officials decide where to live next.
A small monkey was found in a suitcase on a flight from Nigeria to Thailand that passed through Istanbul, the Associated Press reported. He was named Zeytin, or Olive, in a public contest.
For now, he is under the care of Polonezkoy Zoo in Istanbul, and wildlife officials say he can be returned to his natural habitat.
“Yes, what we want and wish is for the baby gorilla … to continue its life in its homeland,” Fahrettin Ulu, regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, told the AP on Sunday.
“The important thing is to establish a completely safe environment in the destination, which is very important to us.”
Another veterinarian in charge of Zeytin is optimistic about his recovery at the zoo and said he is showing improvement since his arrival following the tragic incident.
Get daily world news
Get the day’s top news, politics, economics, and current affairs, delivered to your inbox once a day.
“When he first arrived, he was very shy, he stayed where we left him,” said Gulfem Esmen, a veterinarian. “He doesn’t have those eyes anymore. He doesn’t care about us that much. He plays games alone.”
According to Metro UK, the gorilla was found inside a small wooden crate by officials from the Turkish Ministry of Trade, who had tracked the shipment as part of their wildlife protection efforts.
An endangered young gorilla, found by Turkish authorities at Istanbul airport, appears in a box on Dec. 22, 2024.
Turkish Ministry of Trade / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
He was found wearing a white T-shirt, and was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in the country.
A spokesperson for the department said: “The little one is doing well. It was seized during the inspection of outgoing goods while being transported illegally without proper documentation.
A young gorilla, found by Turkish authorities at Istanbul Airport, plays with toys in Istanbul, Turkey on Jan. 12, 2025.
Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty Images
“The General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks staff provide the necessary rehabilitation and maintenance.”
“The gorilla is still being closely monitored to ensure his recovery,” they added.
Zeytin, a five-month-old male gorilla who was rescued from Istanbul airport, reacts with a keeper in a specially created part of the zoo, in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 12, 2025.
Khalil Hamra / The Associated Press
“Rehabilitators are working tirelessly to help the gorilla regain strength and health. Their care aims to provide a safe environment for the animal’s well-being.”
Both species of gorillas – the western and eastern gorillas, which live in the remote forests and mountains of Central Africa – are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
As Istanbul emerges as a major intercontinental air hub, transit officials have stepped up their efforts to catch smuggled animals. Last October, 17 Nile crocodiles and 10 lizards were found in the luggage of an Egyptian passenger at Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
– With files from the Associated Press
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
