Dear Friend,
In the above video we witness the beginning of a new friendship. It was 1985, and Koko had recently lost her first kitten, “All Ball,” and was still mourning her. We thought it was time to see if Koko was ready to love a kitten again.
Koko explores a basket of kittens that I presented to her and chooses a fluffy gray one with a short tail, who she soon named Smoky. Koko gently holds, cuddles, and plays with Smoky — her new companion.
She signs to express what she wants and her affection and joy.
Koko’s relationship with Smoky offers another glimpse into Koko’s deep capacity for empathy and emotional communication across species.
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!
