Dear Friend,

It’s 1977, I’m sitting with Koko inside her room, and I pull out a bright red plastic lobster from a paper bag and show it to her.

At first, Koko is cautious — even a little afraid of the unfamiliar toy. But her curiosity soon takes over and she begins to interact with the lobster — touching, holding, and eventually cuddling it closely.

Throughout the video, Koko signs “red”— sometimes emphatically, as she focuses on the toy’s vivid color.

This simple exchange reveals so much about Koko’s personality, her emotional range, and her ability to adapt when exploring new things.

What begins as fear transforms into affection — a clear sign of her cognitive flexibility and capacity for connection.

Her signing shows she’s not just reacting, but communicating what matters to her. It’s a small moment, but a powerful reminder of the rich inner lives of gorillas — and how we can understand them when we truly listen!

Conservation through Communication

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