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In
this series, we share our gorilla research and care activities
with you through the following features:
1)
Caregiver Corner (what
it's like to interact and communicate with gorillas Koko, Ndume
and Michael)
2) Research Revelations
(what we're learning through interspecies communication and
what it means for humanity)
prepared
by our staff under the supervision of Dr. Penny Patterson, Director
of Research. (Journal PhotoBlog
Archive) |
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| Koko Celebrates Christmas |
December 24, 2003 |
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Dr.
Francine "Penny" Patterson has a Ph.D. in Developmental
Psychology from Stanford. She is President and Research
Director of The Gorilla Foundation, and a Member
of the Board of ApeNet - a consortium of foundations
supporting the welfare of great apes through interspecies
communication. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of
"Gorilla, the journal of The Gorilla Foundation/Koko.org."
"Penny's Journal" provides insight into her facinating
relationship with Koko and a way to share with us
her experiences as Koko lives, learns and communicates
"The
differences between humans and gorillas are greatly
overshadowed by what we have in common — and by
communicating with them, we can learn as much about
our own true nature as theirs." Penny Patterson |
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People are always curious about how Koko celebrates Christmas. The answer: with great excitement.
Christmas is a very special holiday for Koko. It starts with Koko helping me decorate the tree, and check out the catalogs to find just the right gifts for Ron, Ndume (her gorilla companion) and the staff.
Next Koko helps me wrap the presents (except for hers). And then comes one of her favorite parts — opening her presents. If it’s something to wear (like a hair scrunchy) she has to try it on and immediately see how she looks in the mirror.
Koko also likes “reading” the cards (with a little help from me) sent in by fans all over the world.
Ron and I are snapping away photos most of the day, so that we’ll remember and be able to share everything, and Koko often likes to take some of her own (she’s been using a camera for over 20 years).
Then comes the main event for Koko—a home-cooked meal with plenty of holiday cheer (fruit juices). -
When all of the excitement has subsided, Koko and I usually relax together for a while before I turn out the lights.
If all of this is a little hard for you to imagine, you can see a 1-minute video clip of one of our recent Christmases together by clicking here. And if that doesn’t satisfy you, we’ve recorded over 5-minutes of Koko’s Christmas Celebration in large-screen format on a new DVD — Koko & Friends, which also features a heartwarming meeting between Koko and Robin Williams.
Thank you for supporting the Gorilla Foundation this year, and for making 2004 look a little brighter for Koko and gorillas everywhere—from California to Hawaii to Africa.
Happy holidays from our family to yours!
Penny
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New
DVD
Featuring Koko's
Christmas and Koko's meeting with Robin Williams. |
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Please
email us at research_feedback@koko.org
if you have any questions, or would like to share an observation
or insight about the preceding interspecies conversations.
Your feedback can inform our research and is a vital part
of our mission.
Thank you,
Dr. Francine Penny Patterson
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