Baby Gorilla Rescued from Cargo Hold of Plane on Road to Recovery in Istanbul

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A five-month-old gorilla, named Zeytin, was recently rescued from the cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines plane and is recovering at Polonezkoy Zoo near Istanbul. The young gorilla was found in a box at Istanbul Airport during a customs check, as he was being transported illegally from Nigeria to Thailand.

Following his rescue, Zeytin was taken to the zoo to recover from the traumatic journey. Fahrettin Ulu, the regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks, expressed hopes that the baby gorilla could eventually be returned to his natural habitat. "What we want and desire is for the baby gorilla to continue its life in its homeland," he stated.

Veterinarian Gulfem Esmen reported Zeytin's progress, noting he has become more playful and less shy since his arrival at the zoo. Both the western and eastern gorilla species are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, highlighting the ongoing issue of illegal wildlife trafficking.

Istanbul has emerged as a key air hub, leading to increased interceptions of trafficked animals, with notable recent finds including 17 young Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards in an Egyptian passenger's luggage at Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

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