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

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, as well as how to cope with the illegal trade in animals passing through the city’s busy air hub.

A young gorilla rescued from a plane’s cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo, officials have said. Wildlife officers are considering returning the animal, found in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight, to his natural habitat.

Baby gorilla was rescued from a smuggling attempt at Turkey airport last month.The five-month-old gorilla who is now recovering at Polonezkoy Zoo, Istanbul was found by authorities at airport in the cargo hold of Turkish Airlines

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

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.