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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 31 |
July 04, 2002 |
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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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An early morning walk in the fog, special drinks, a peanut butter sandwich, chocolate, gifts.
Birthday wishes fulfilled on July 4, 2002--Hanabi-Ko (Fireworks Child in Japanese) had a wonderful birthday celebration in Woodside CA.
Koko specifically requested the drinks, sandwich and chocolate when asked what she wanted for her birthday, using signs from her extensive vocabulary. She also asked for "surprises." The walk on the 6-acre Gorilla Foundation grounds is a birthday tradition.
On the walk, we encountered several baby banana slugs. When I commented, "The endangered banana slug," Koko signed "Shame." Koko seems to be aware that endangered is not a good thing to be.
Her favorite gift was a new bed. "Koko-love!" she exclaimed on seeing her Little Tykes® bed set, complete with fuschia sheets, pillows and a teddy bear. And love it she does. Koko spent most of the afternoon on her new bed (new to Koko; it was acquired at the Woodside Church rummage sale). When it was time to go out to the play yard, she took the foam mattress with her! Back inside for bedtime, she left her bed only to get her night treat and to use the toilet.
Sweet dreams, Koko.
. . . Penny
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Koko's Favorite Foods
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Koko's Favorite Gift
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Koko's Online Biography |
Birthday Press Release |
Learn to Sign with Koko
How You Can Help |
Subscribe to KokoMail (free)
Koko.org Home
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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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