Global Push Grows to Save Trafficked Gorilla Zeytin

A baby gorilla rescued from wildlife traffickers could still get his chance at a better life, thanks to experts refusing to give up on him.

In December 2024, Turkish customs officers discovered five-month-old Zeytin stuffed inside a crate falsely labeled as rabbits. The malnourished western lowland gorilla was being smuggled from Nigeria to Bangkok without any legal permits. After the rescue made headlines worldwide, people across Turkey helped name him Zeytin, meaning "olive" in Turkish.

Turkish authorities initially promised to send Zeytin to a primate sanctuary in Nigeria where he could learn from other gorillas and potentially return to the wild one day. By August 2025, plans were in the "final phase" with Turkish Airlines ready to fly him to the Drill Ranch sanctuary.

Then DNA tests revealed Zeytin wasn't originally from Nigeria. Officials reversed course in September, announcing he would stay in Turkey permanently as a zoo attraction.

That decision sparked concern from wildlife experts around the world. Zeytin now lives alone at Polonezköy Zoo in Istanbul, the only gorilla in the entire country. Gorillas are deeply social animals who live in family groups, learning essential life skills from their mothers and developing complex bonds with other gorillas.

"At present, Turkey does not have adequate facilities to meet the long-term physical, social and psychological needs of a gorilla," said primate expert Aslıhan Niksarlı, who has been working with Turkish authorities on Zeytin's care since his rescue. Without other gorillas, Zeytin continues living in isolation.

Conservationists emphasize that while his country of origin is unknown, international guidelines allow trafficked animals to receive care at accredited sanctuaries elsewhere in Africa. The Drill Ranch and other facilities in the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance network have the expertise and other gorillas needed to give Zeytin a real chance at thriving.

The Ripple Effect

The global attention on Zeytin's case is shining a spotlight on the illegal wildlife trade and the specialized care rescued animals need. His story has brought together conservation groups, government officials, and concerned citizens worldwide, all working to ensure one baby gorilla gets the social connections every young primate deserves.

Experts continue urging Turkish officials to reconsider, knowing that every month matters for a young gorilla's development. With multiple African sanctuaries ready to welcome him, Zeytin's supporters believe his story isn't over yet.