Brute finds little stream in Goa (7)
I believe the answer is:
gorilla
'brute' is the definition.
(I know that gorilla is a type of great ape)
'little stream in goa' is the wordplay.
'little stream' becomes 'rill' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'rill' inserted into 'goa' is 'GORILLA'.
'finds' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for gorilla that I've seen before include "Aggressive-looking type" , "Large animal" , "Big ape" , "Chest-beating primate" , "Powerful great ape" .)