Dear Friend,

In the above video, we share two moments of young Koko exploring sand — first in a sandbox at Stanford in the fall of 1974, and then, before moving to Stanford, at the San Francisco Zoo, playing on a jungle gym above sand.

In the Stanford footage, I model the sign for “sand,” pairing what Koko is feeling and exploring with a simple label. Sand becomes a perfect learning material because it changes shape, slips, pours, and invites hands-on discovery.

At the zoo, we see her climbing and playing, and then slowing down to investigate the sand itself, letting it flow through her fingers, and testing its texture with focused curiosity.

From the SF Zoo to Stanford, Koko shows how young gorillas learn through movement and sensory exploration, with the first steps of shared language.

Thank you for being part of our effort to help people better understand gorillas with care, respect, and curiosity.

With Koko-Love,

Penny Patterson
President, CEO and Founder
The Gorilla Foundation / koko.org

Conservation through Communication

so that Koko’s legacy can live on — protecting gorillas in Africa
and giving them a voice worldwide.

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