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.
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 sign language stories to inspire empathy and action in community programs.
3) Support community-led gorilla protection that focuses on Cross River Gorillas the most highly endangered subspecies, with only 300 remaining in the wild.
Help us give gorillas a voice — Koko showed us what’s possible when we listen.
Let’s continue her legacy and ensure all gorillas are seen, heard, and protected!
or:
and receive a Koko Plush as a thank you gift.
This Earth Day, please join me to save gorillas everywhere!
With deep gratitude and Koko-love,
Dr. Penny Patterson
President, CEO and Founder
The Gorilla Foundation / Koko.org
“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
