Dear Friend,

In the above video, we see Koko’s childhood mate, Michael, playing with a much heavier ball than the bright red ball she played with last week.

Notice how Michael handles the ball with impressive ease. 

Michael was always an enthusiastic investigator, and you can even see him test the ball here with his teeth, as he explores it with his hands, mouth, and mind.  

Watch how he experiments with it in different ways — spinning, rolling, lifting, and tossing it — each time adjusting his body and timing to match what the ball will do next. 

The best moment comes when Michael lies on his back and uses his feet to toss the ball into the air, a wonderful example of strength, balance, coordination, and creativity in play. 

Michael was also a creative force — using the sign language he learned alongside Koko to communicate important stories, and painting beautiful works of art expressing his intricate emotional and intellectual inner life.

Thank you for being part of our effort to help people better understand gorillas and learn to treat them with care, respect, and curiosity.

With Koko-Love,

Penny Patterson
President, CEO and Founder
The Gorilla Foundation / koko.org

Conservation through Communication

Purchase limited edition gorilla art at Koko.org

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The Gorilla Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our Federal Tax ID is: 942-38-6151