Rescued Gorilla Recovering at Istanbul Zoo, May Return to Africa

A young gorilla named Zeytin, rescued from a plane's cargo hold, is recovering at an Istanbul zoo. Officials are considering returning him to his natural habitat in central Africa.

Zeytin, just five months old, was discovered in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month. He has been named after a public competition and is recuperating at Polonezkoy Zoo.

"Our desire is for the baby gorilla to continue its life in its homeland," said Fahrettin Ulu, regional director of Istanbul Nature Conservation and National Parks. "It's crucial that a safe environment is established for him there."

Since his arrival, Zeytin has gained weight and is showing signs of recovery from his traumatic journey. "He was very shy at first," said veterinarian Gulfem Esmen. "He doesn't have that shyness now. He plays games by himself."

Both western and eastern gorilla species, which inhabit central Africa's forests and mountains, are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

As Istanbul becomes a major air hub, customs officials have increasingly intercepted illegally traded animals. In October, 17 young Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards were found in a passenger's luggage at the city's Sabiha Gokcen Airport.