Koko and (her late companion) Michael have been extremely helpful in designing the Maui preserve. Through sign language they make their desires known to their human care-givers. The gorilla's preferences and opinions were taken into consideration during the planning stages. The preserve will not be open to the public because it is quite apparent that the gorillas are disturbed by the presence of strangers. Michael and Ndume, Koko's male companion on loan from the Cincinnati Zoo, become highly agitated when visitors come onto the grounds of their home. They make distress vocalizations, display charges and often require several days to regain their sense of security. Physiological signs of stress include sweating, diarrhea and shaking. Koko usually enjoys meeting new people; however, prolonged visits often end in nervous displays and leave her feeling sad. When questioned about visitors, Koko and Michael make their views very clear:
May 1984, Conversation with Koko
Researcher: What sort of visitors do you like?
Koko: Koko love Tyler.
Tyler was Michael's male care-giver at this time. Koko liked Tyler a great deal.
Researcher: What sort of visitors don't you like?
Koko: Visitor dirty curious.
Researcher: Don't like visitors that ask a lot of questions?
Koko: Frown bad.
Researcher: They're interested, they want to find out about you.
Koko: Lip insult.
Lip is Koko's invented word for woman
Researcher: Like it better if they don't ask a lot of questions?
Koko: Gorilla love.
October 1985, Conversation with Michael
Researcher: What do you think about visitors?
Michael: Chase chase squash hit-in-mouth.
June 1989, Conversation with Michael
Researcher: Do you like meeting new people?
Michael: Stupid no-good.
Because of the gorillas' discomfort around strangers, The Gorilla Foundation will build an interpretive center near the preserve and plans to allow the public to view the activities of the gorillas through closed-circuit cameras. The focus of the center will be interactive, with lectures, videotaped footage of the project, historical artifacts, educational displays, information and a gift shop to raise awareness and funds to support the preserve.
Koko, Michael, and Ndume have also made it clear they have an aversion to cold, damp weather. They refuse to go outside or are often prevented from being exposed to the elements during the winter. The gorillas seem to exhibit lethargy and depression during these periods. Many of the world's gorillas are housed in geographic regions with extreme weather conditions.
|
