A baby Western lowland gorilla rescued from wildlife traffickers in Turkey is set to return to Nigeria after months of rehabilitation at the Polonezköy Zoo in Istanbul.
The young gorilla, named Zeytin, was just five months old when Turkish authorities discovered him in December 2024, crammed inside a small wooden crate in the cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines flight traveling from Nigeria to Thailand. Officials described the infant as visibly terrified, a discovery that sparked widespread media attention both locally and internationally.
“It was the first time a gorilla had been confiscated at Istanbul Airport,” said Fahrettin Ulu, regional director of Istanbul’s Nature Conservation and National Parks Directorate. “He was found inside a small box, and you could see the fear in his eyes.”
Since his rescue, Zeytin has received specialized care in a designated area of the zoo. “When he arrived, he weighed just 9.4 kilograms. Now, he weighs 16 kilograms and has grown from 62.5 to 80 centimeters. In short, Zeytin has grown from a baby into a young gorilla,” Ulu said.
Zeytin has been observed playing actively—swinging from branches, engaging with his keeper, and enjoying a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables. Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), trafficked animals must be returned to their country of origin. Turkish authorities are now coordinating with Nigerian officials to complete Zeytin’s repatriation.
“We followed all legal procedures and thoroughly investigated rehabilitation facilities in Nigeria before deciding to send him back,” Ulu explained.
Wildlife experts have raised concerns about the rising trend in trafficking baby great apes, who are often targeted due to their small size and perceived appeal as exotic pets or attractions. “Gorilla babies are particularly vulnerable to trafficking because they’re young, manageable, and easy to transport,” said Denis Mahonghol, Central Africa director for TRAFFIC, an organization focused on wildlife trade monitoring.
In Nigeria, Zeytin will be temporarily housed by the Pandrillus Foundation, which runs a well-known primate rehabilitation center. DNA testing will be conducted to confirm Zeytin’s origin and prepare him for social integration with another young gorilla named Bili.
“At Drill Ranch, we have a three-year-old female gorilla named Bili, who was also confiscated from traffickers in Lagos two years ago,” said Liza Gadsby, director of the Pandrillus Foundation. “We postponed her transfer to a habitat sanctuary when we learned about Zeytin. Now, the two orphans will have a chance to bond and recover together during quarantine.”
Authorities hope that Zeytin’s return will not only aid in his rehabilitation but also contribute to broader efforts to protect the critically endangered Western lowland gorilla from illegal wildlife trade. His eventual reintegration into the wild will mark a vital milestone in the global fight against trafficking of great apes.
