Koko Observes the Kittens
In August 2015, Koko was getting to know Ms. Grey and Ms. Black, two sibling kittens who had been brought to meet her in celebration of her 44th birthday. Koko chose them herself and formed an immediate connection with them. In this footage, Koko knuckle-walks through a doorway the way all gorillas do, bearing her weight on the backs of her curled fingers.
Though she weighed about 250 pounds, she slows down and sets each hand down with care as they tumble around her, while Penny stays close by and reaches out to her.
She walks over to sit beside them, turns a blue glove over in her hands, and then settles against the wall to watch them wrestle and chase.
In gorilla groups, adults often rest close by while youngsters play, keeping an eye on things without joining in. Koko’s calm, steady attention shows that same patience, along with the fine control gorillas have over their great strength.
