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Travel Radar - Aviation News > News > Incidents & Accidents > Baby gorilla rescued from wildlife trafficking by Turkish Airlines
AirlinesBreaking NewsDid You KnowIncidents & Accidents

Baby gorilla rescued from wildlife trafficking by Turkish Airlines

Christian Thevathasan
Last updated: 20 January 2025 13:40
By Christian Thevathasan 4 Min Read
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Zeytin the five-month-old gorilla © Sky News
Zeytin the five-month-old gorilla © Sky News
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A five-month-old baby gorilla captured hearts worldwide after being rescued from the cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines flight. After a public naming competition, he is named Zeytin (Turkish for ‘olive’). The baby gorilla flew illegally from Nigeria to Thailand, and is now under care at Polonezköy Zoo near Istanbul, where he is regaining strength and confidence. Discussions are now underway concerning the endangered primate’s future ensuring he is in a safe and felicitous environment for his growth. 

Summary
The Discovery: Wildlife Trafficking Recovery: Polonezköy ZooThe Future: A Return to the Wild?

The Discovery: Wildlife Trafficking 

Zeytin’s story began on a Turkish Airlines flight transiting through Türkiye’s capital, Istanbul, where during a routine customs inspection, officials discovered him in a small box. They smuggled the young gorilla on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand as part of an illegal wildlife trafficking operation. This discovery sheds light on the increasing role Istanbul plays as a transit hub and the challenges it faces in intercepting exotic animals being illegally transported across continents. 

Surprisingly, this case is not an isolated incident. Istanbul’s airports have discovered other illegal wildlife trafficking operations, with 17 Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards. Zeytin highlights the pressing need for more stringent measures to protect endangered species and end illegal wildlife trade.

Zeytin the five-month-old gorilla © Sky News
Zeytin the five-month-old gorilla © Sky News

Recovery: Polonezköy Zoo

Following the rescue, Zeytin was relocated to Polonezköy Zoo, an animal sanctuary located just outside of Istanbul. He has been receiving round-the-clock attention as veterinarians have begun his rehabilitation journey. Initially, he was shy and withdrawn due to the traumatic journey, but Zeytin made significant progress. Veterinarian Gulfem Esmen underscores this:

When he first came, he was very shy, he would stay where we left him. He doesn’t have that shyness now. He doesn’t even care about us much. He plays games by himself.

This progress is a testament to the nurturing and care Zeytin is receiving from the zoo’s team to recover from his traumatic start in life. 

Zeytin the five-month-old gorilla © Sky News
Zeytin the five-month-old gorilla © Sky News

The Future: A Return to the Wild?

Officials are optimistic about Zeytin’s future, with considerations for him to return to his natural habitat in Central Africa. The regional director of Istanbul’s nature conservation and national parks, Fahrettin Ulu elaborates:

Of course, what we want and desire is for the baby gorilla … to continue its life in its homeland.

Nevertheless, ensuring that his natural habitat is safe and secure for his return is crucial when repatriating wildlife. Gorilla populations in the wild face major threats from poaching and loss of habitat. Conservationists hope that Zeytin’s story will raise awareness about the devastating impact of wildlife trafficking. 

Undeniably, Zeytin’s recovery serves as a poignant reminder of the threats that gorillas face at the hand of crumbling ecosystems and avaricious poachers. His legacy will hopefully elucidate the importance of international collaboration to combat wildlife. From the confines of a smuggled cargo box to a bright and hopeful future, Zeytin shows us what can prevail through collective compassion, vigilance and a commitment to conservation.

Help protect Gorilla wildlife by supporting the WFF’s conservation mission today

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Christian Thevathasan
By Christian Thevathasan
Chief Content Officer - A quadrilingual writer and content creator piercing the travel industry. Always eager to share my love and curiosity for storytelling, whether it be as a Human Rights Research Editor with the United Nations or as a Luxury Travel & Culture Writer for feature magazines!
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Sonya Adams
Sonya Adams
7 months ago

What a heartwarming and inspiring story! It’s truly remarkable to see how Turkish Airlines played a pivotal role in rescuing the baby gorilla from the clutches of wildlife trafficking. This not only highlights the importance of protecting endangered species but also showcases the impact that organizations can have when they take a stand against such heinous activities. The dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of this innocent creature is commendable.

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