Istanbul’s airports have become hotspots for stopping illegal wildlife trafficking. In October, customs officials found 17 young Nile crocodiles and 10 monitor lizards hidden in a passenger’s luggage at Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

Last month, a juvenile gorilla was found onboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand. Officials believe the gorilla was being trafficked for the illegal wildlife trade, finding the 5-month-old ape in a box within the plane’s cargo hold at Istanbul Airport.

A young gorilla rescued from a plane’s cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo while wildlife officers consider returning him to his natural habitat.

A young gorilla named Zeytin, discovered in a plane's cargo hold, is recovering at Istanbul's Polonezkoy Zoo. Wildlife officials hope to return him to his natural habitat once conditions ensure his safety.

A 5-month-old gorilla rescued from a Turkish Airlines plane's cargo hold is now recovering at a zoo in Istanbul, officials announced Sunday.