Dear Friend,

We all know that Koko is extraordinary. After all, it's not every day you meet a gorilla who can speak in American Sign Language. But she isn't unique — she's just had a unique life, surrounded by loving communicators!

You see, all gorillas, not just Koko, have the capacity to do what Koko does — communicate with humans via a gestural language, and understand spoken words.

Gorillas are born with the natural ability to use gestures to communicate -- they have been observed using up to 100 natural gestures with each other. Koko knows over 1,000 words in sign language; Michael knew over 500 words, and Ndume exhibits dozens of meaningful gestures.

We are embarking on a new initiative to share what we know about this language capacity by developing some unique educational tools.

Your gift today of $25 or more will help the Gorilla Foundation accelerate this vital effort to transmit Koko’s legacy to all gorillas!

We plan to develop a new video-based Koko App, with Koko signs, and Penny and staff demonstrating how to learn — and teach — them. The app will also include some common natural gorilla gestures that can be observed in use by zoo gorillas, in addition to care signs we have found to be invaluable in providing our gorillas with the capability to let us know what they need and want.

Ultimately, we believe that interspecies communication is how we can inspire people to care about gorillas — and help save them from extinction.

With your generous gift today, you will be joining us in creating these tools, and transmitting Koko’s legacy to all gorillas!

It’s time for gorillas in zoos and sanctuaries across the world to benefit from the fact that “they are all Kokos.” Thank you for helping us apply our work with Koko to benefit hundreds of gorillas in captivity, thousands of gorillas in Africa, and millions of humans who care about them worldwide!

With sincere gratitude for your vital support!

Sincerely,

Penny Patterson, Ph.D. President and Director of Research	Koko Designated "Voice of Nature"