Sample Koko/Communication Project 1: Timothy Ostheimer and John Hilton

Timothy and John, 8th grade students, submitted the following questions (followed by our answers) and created the display shown at the top of this article for their impressive National History Day project. In the following Q&A, TJ"i" denotes Tim and John question number "i," and GF"i" denotes The Gorilla Foundation's response to question number "i."

TJ1: Is Koko still young enough to have a baby? Do you think her offspring would learn sign language from her and use it to communicate with other gorillas?

GF1: Yes, Koko is now 34 and female gorillas in captivity have been known to have children into their 40's. There are good indications that Koko would teach her offspring sign language. First, Koko often molds her ape dolls hands and arms into signs, in answer to some of our questions to her, in imaginary play, and as a way to indirectly express her feelings and opinions to us.

Second, she has demonstrated a number of her favorite signs to Ndume, her prospective mate. And third, judging from how quickly Koko learned sign language as an infant, there is no reason to believe that her baby wouldn't learn as quickly from her.

Finally, keep in mind that we know that Koko is not unique in her capability for learning sign language. Her former male companion, Michael, learned to use sign language just as well as Koko, and he started a couple of years later in life. Gorillas (and other great apes have a natural gestural communication system, which means that the capability for using gestural language may be built in.

Should Koko teach sign language to her offspring, this demonstration of "cultural transmission" of a human language by gorillas (without human intervention) would be viewed as a scientific milestone, and would probably do much to raise awareness about the need to protect gorillas from imminent extinction by Man.


TJ2: Can anyone who knows ASL communicate with Koko or is gorilla sign language very different?

GF2: Most of the differences between ASL and GSL (Koko's modified form of American Sign Language) are subtle, so that most ASL signers would typically understand most of what Koko signs, and vice versa. GSL (Gorilla Sign Language) is the gorillas' adaptation of ASL to suit a) their physical anatomy and b) their lack of access to a comprehensive ASL dictionary/vocabulary. For example, because of the slightly different hand structure of gorillas from humans (e.g., smaller thumb to index finger ratio), it is difficult for the gorillas to make signs involving intricate thumb-finger gestures, so they often omit the "thumb" aspect of the gesture.

And regarding vocabulary, Koko often invents her own signs for words that she has never been taught. For example, she invented the compound sign "finger-bracelet" for ring, and compounded the sign for "brow" with the sign for the letter "s" to phonetically invent the sign for "browse," the word that her caregivers use to refer to the fresh greens and leaves in Koko's diet. This brings up an interesting and overlooked point. Because I always "spoke" to Koko simultaneously with signing to her, she has learned to understand even more words of spoken English than signs (she knows over 1000 signs and understands over 2000 spoken words). This means that Koko is bilingual and often understands and communicates more than her human friends appreciate.


TJ3: Places like the Congo are so devastated by warring nations that it seems impossible that gorillas and their habitat can be saved. How has communication with Koko helped to save gorillas?

GF3: Interspecies communication with gorillas like Koko and Michael has changed the perception of gorillas by people around the world, even in the Congo. And although the situation in Central Africa looks grim for the future of gorillas (owing to the bushmeat trade, habitat destruction and human wars), things might be worse in some of these countries if it weren't for this expanded awareness about the true nature of gorillas. (We have had some success with educational outreach in Africa, in which exposure to the book Koko's Kitten has made an impact on poachers, would-be poachers, elders and of course children — who may be our only hope.)

And there is always the possibility of creating enough great ape sanctuaries in Africa and elsewhere so that a small population can be maintained in natural environments until humans evolve beyond their (our) temporary insanity. Koko's role today, as an articulate ambassador for her species, is to foster the development of as many humane sanctuaries for great apes around the world as possible. The role of the Gorilla Foundation, is to develop a model sanctuary of our own, for Koko and her extended family — the Maui Ape Preserve (see http://www.koko.org/preserve).


TJ4: With regard to the theme, "Communication: The Key to Understanding," what is the most important thing Project Koko focuses on?

GF4: Perhaps the most important point Project Koko brings into focus is the interconnectedness of all living creatures, and the way in which learning to communicate with just one other species makes that so clear. (Interspecies) communication is the key to understanding a new secret about our world: that humans are not the center of the Universe, that other species may not be as different from humans as they may appear to our senses, and that we have a lot to learn from other species — about both them and ourselves. Other species can be conscious, aware, thinking, feeling and essentially like us on the inside, By relating to other species not as “lower” animals on an evolutionary hierarchy, but as beings intrinsically deserving of respect and love (as we have with Koko) we may establish a powerful and intimate bond with them that opens up new possibilities for both of us.

And just as the view that Earth was the center of the solar system was shattered by the Gallilean discovery that the Earth rotates around the Sun— Project Koko forces us to re-think our view of the world, and evolve into responsible inhabitants (rather than exploitative parasites) of planet Earth.

S5: When Koko signs does she always get what she wants?

P5: Like anyone else, of course not.


S6: What future studies will you do with Koko?

P6: Good question. There is already so much data that has yet to be analyzed and published, including information about Koko’s use of “grammar” (which skeptics think is impossible for a gorilla), and her creative use of tools, words and ideas. However, we are currently in the process of designing some new studies that focus on the similarities and differences in cognition (knowing, awareness, perception, reasoning, judgment and consciousness) between gorillas and humans. With Koko’s language abilities, she now makes it possible to do studies that would not otherwise be possible.


S7: Can what you’ve learned working with Koko help humans?

P7: Yes. First, it is helping to motivate students around the world to study great apes and help them survive the impacts of our species on theirs. It is also inspiring many students to take better care of the environment and all other species with whom we share the earth. It is helping young people understand that a hierarchy placing man above all other animals is not real, but a projection of our minds.

Second, it is helping us learn to communicate better with autistic and other communicationally challenged humans, who often open up when they are exposed to Koko, and connect with her in a way they find difficult with other humans.

Third, we are learning much about the origin of language and cognition in humans by studying how it arises in gorillas (one of our closest living relatives).

Fourth, it demonstrates that what a “person” accomplishes in life is related to what others think they are capable of, and how they are treated by others. If you accept someone, respect who they are (similarities and differences) and place no limits on your expectations of what they can accomplish, then they will often surprise you by exceeding normal expectations. The success of Project Koko is largely a result of developing a mutually rewarding “relationship” with Koko, and not treating her as a test subject.

Fifth, by inspiring humans to save her species (and the other great ape species, all of whom are in danger of imminent extinction by man), Koko is challenging humans to realize their potential as a truly enlightened species. If we listen to her, our whole planet will be better for it; if we ignore her plea, the human species may be headed for a downward spiral. (It’s our choice.)

And sixth, seventh and beyond is left as an exercise for you . . . Can you think of any other benefits of Koko and Project Koko for you and other humans, either now or in the future?


S8: Does Koko miss being a normal gorilla or does she like being able to communicate with humans?

P8: Since Koko essentially became a member of the Gorilla Foundation at age one, I don’t think she considers herself to be abnormal — in her own words, she considers herself to be a “fine gorilla person.” I also know that she likes being able to communicate with us, although she sometimes gets frustrated when we don’t understand her new signs, or can’t keep up with her. However, she does want to have a baby — which is normal for both gorilla and human females — and having her own family would allow her to lead a more “normal” gorilla life with the added benefit of being able to communicate with humans, as friends and helpers.