Dear [Friend],

For over 45 years, I had the extraordinary privilege of working with Koko — a western lowland gorilla who learned to communicate with us through sign language.

She didn’t just change my life — she changed how the world sees gorillas: as intelligent, emotional beings with a deep capacity for love, empathy, and connection.

Now, we have a chance to use Koko’s legacy to save all gorillas from extinction.
This Earth Day, I invite you to watch a short video showing how our Koko Signs app is being used in a Compassionate Conservation Children’s Camp on the edge of a remote village in southeast Cameroon — home to some of the world’s richest biodiversity, including the critically endangered western lowland gorillas

Wach this video:

Your Earth Day gift will help us:

1) Bring the Koko Signs app to more gorilla habitats across Africa — helping children and adults appreciate the emotional and intellectual lives of gorillas.
2) Develop a compassionate conservation curriculum — using Koko and Michael’s stories and sign language to foster empathy and inspire action in schools and community programs.
3) Support community-led gorilla protection efforts — by equipping local leaders with tools (like the Koko Signs app) and training to safeguard gorillas in their region.
4) Extend our work to the critically endangered Cross River Gorillas, who live on the border between Cameroon and Nigeria, where our impact can be significant (there are only 300 members left).

Together, we can save gorillas — and use this model to protect them across Africa.

or:

and receive a Koko Plush as a thank you

Help us give gorillas a voice — Koko showed us what’s possible when we listen.
Let’s carry her legacy forward and ensure all gorillas are seen, heard, and protected.

“Poachers won’t be able to kill gorillas after using the Koko Signs App” — Baka Elder

“When the kids saw Koko in the videos signing, it created a genuine concern for the species and they could start identifying how close gorillas are to humans.” — Teacher

“The kids were amazed when they saw Koko signing on the App” — Camp Coordinator

“The whole community started referring to gorillas as ‘Koko’. ” — Camp Participant

Conservation through Communication

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