Trafficked Gorilla to Be Returned to Nigeria Following Rehabilitation in Turkey

• A baby gorilla rescued from traffickers at Istanbul airport is preparing to return to Nigeria after months of rehabilitation
• Zeytin, now thriving at Polonezköy Zoo, was found crammed in a crate on a flight from Nigeria to Thailand
• His repatriation sheds light on the growing threat of great ape trafficking across West and Central Africa

A young gorilla rescued from wildlife traffickers is set to return to Nigeria after nearly nine months of rehabilitation at a zoo in Istanbul, Turkish officials have confirmed.

Zeytin, a Western lowland gorilla, was just five months old when he was discovered days before Christmas, crammed into a wooden crate in the cargo hold of a Turkish Airlines flight bound for Thailand.

His frightened expression, captured in photographs, sparked widespread media attention across Turkey and beyond.

The infant primate was immediately transferred to Polonezköy Zoo, nestled in the wooded hills outside Istanbul, where he began his recovery from the trauma of trafficking. Fahrettin Ulu, regional director of Istanbul’s Nature Conservation and National Parks directorate, told AFP, “It was the first time a gorilla has been confiscated at Istanbul airport.

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He was found inside a small box and he was terrified: you could see it in his eyes.”

Zeytin's recovery: From trauma to playfulness

Since his arrival, Zeytin has undergone a remarkable transformation. Ulu reported that the gorilla was placed in a specialised section of the zoo and “nurtured with motherly affection.” His weight has increased from 9.4 kilograms to 16, and his height has grown from 62.5 to 80 centimetres.

Now a lively young gorilla, Zeytin is often seen darting across the zoo’s open spaces, swinging from tree branches and playing tag with his keeper. Occasionally, he pauses to snack on cucumber or orange, seemingly content in his temporary home.

Wildlife trafficking: Growing threat to great apes

Zeytin is believed to be a member of the critically endangered Western lowland gorilla subspecies, native to the rainforests of central Africa. Their population has been severely impacted by deforestation, hunting and disease.

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According to a 2013 report by the UN Environment Programme, an estimated 3,174 great apes are lost annually to illegal trade, with many more going undetected. West and Central Africa remain major hotspots for trafficking activity.

Denis Mahonghol, TRAFFIC’s Central Africa director, warned that the illegal trade in baby gorillas is on the rise. “Gorilla babies can be trafficked easily because they are young, very manageable and easy to transport so the trend is increasing,” he said, noting that the trade is “increasingly linked to organised crime networks.”

Repatriation under CITES: Zeytin to return to Nigeria

Under the CITES treaty, which regulates the international trade of endangered species, animals rescued from trafficking must be returned to their country of origin. Ulu stated that the repatriation process is being coordinated with Nigerian authorities and the CITES Secretariat.

“We followed the legal procedures and investigated information regarding the rehabilitation centre in Nigeria, after which we decided to send him back,” Ulu said.

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Mahonghol noted that while Turkish officials have indicated Zeytin will be repatriated later this month, the exact date remains uncertain. Nigerian authorities, he said, are still awaiting a timeline from Turkey.

World's oldest male Gorilla dies

Legit.ng earlier reported that Ozzie, the world's oldest male gorilla, has died at a zoo in the US aged 61, Zoo Atlanta officials have confirmed. The western lowland silverback primate was found dead by the team of warders who have been taking care of him, NBC News reports.

According to a statement issued by the zoo's management, Ozzie's cause of death was not immediately known. The statement further indicated that the zoo would share results of the animal's necropsy once the details are issued by the University of Georgia's veterinary college.

Source: Legit.ng