Dear Friend,
In the above video, Koko, at 9-years-old, demonstrates her remarkable comprehension skills.
When I request that Koko find something soft, she presents a blanket and then correctly signs its color, orange. I couldnโt help but tell her how smart she is.
Then we explore a drawing together, and I ask her to point out whatโs wrong. She identifies a car with a square tire and a woman walking a tiger down the street.
Finally, I hold up a drawing with four separate images and ask Koko to find the eyes. Once again, she responds correctly.
What moves me most about these exchanges is how clearly they show Kokoโs comprehension. She wasnโt just repeating signs; she was reasoning, evaluating, and making connections. These are qualities once thought to be uniquely human, yet Koko demonstrated them clearly and convincingly.
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
With your gift, Kokoโs legacy lives on โ protecting gorillas in Africa
and giving them a voice worldwide.
!
