Dear Friend,
How do you teach a gorilla the sign for โBabyโ?
In the above video, when Koko was just 2 years old, you see me showing her a baby doll, modeling and molding the sign for “baby”, and letting her give the โbabyโ a big hug.
At age 2, Koko was already learning that signs arenโt just hand shapes โ theyโre a way to talk about the things she loved. Signs came to life for Koko when they were tied to real things she could see, touch, and hold.
These small steps opened the door to a rich world of shared expression between Koko and her caregivers.
And she went on to learn over 1000 signs โ alongside her companion Michael, who learned over 500 โ and became a true ambassador for her species, giving us insights and tools to help protect gorillas that wouldnโt have existed otherwise.
Many thanks, Koko!
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
Without the support of people like you, Gorillas remain at risk.
Thank you for supporting Koko’s Legacy of gorilla conservation and care today!
