Dear Friend,
Halloween was always one of the gorillasโ favorite times of year, as you can see in the above video. Every October, weโd bring out bright orange pumpkins for them to explore, and the reactions were as unique as their personalities.
In 1992, Michael, at 19, opened his pumpkin with the precision of a sculptor. Nearby, Koko bit into hers in the smaller yard while Ndume, then just 11, was tentative at first.
Years later, at age 30, Koko was still celebrating, this time indoors. She admired a pumpkin decoration weโd placed in her room, then drew a jack-o-lantern of her own, and dug in, unable to resist the taste. I thought sheโd like a smiling pumpkin, but she insisted that it should be a sad pumpkin for Halloween.
Pumpkins were more than treats; they were opportunities for creativity and discovery. Whether opening them with relish or savoring them slowly, each gorilla found joy in the simple pleasures of the season.
Happy Halloween to you!
With Koko-Love,
Dr. Penny Patterson
President, CEO and Founder
The Gorilla Foundation / Koko.org
Conservation through Communication
The Gorilla Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our Federal Tax ID is: 942-38-6151
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