A young gorilla rescued from an aircraft hold recovers at Istanbul zoo
A young gorilla rescued from a plane’s cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo, officials said Sunday, while wildlife officers consider returning him to his natural habitat.
ISTANBUL — A young gorilla rescued from a plane’s cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo, officials said Sunday, while wildlife officers consider returning him to his natural habitat.
The 5-month-old gorilla was discovered in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month. After a public competition, he has been named Zeytin, or Olive, and is recuperating at Polonezkoy Zoo.
“Of course, what we want and desire is for the baby gorilla … to continue its life in its homeland,” Fahrettin Ulu, regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, said Sunday.
“What is important is that an absolutely safe environment is established in the place it goes to, which is extremely important for us.”
Zeytin the baby gorilla continues rehabilitation in Istanbul on Jan. 12, 2025.Mehmet Murat Onel/ / Anadolu via Getty ImagesIn the weeks since he was found, Zeytin has gained weight and is showing signs of recovering from his traumatic journey.
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