Dear Friend,
When Koko and I sat down for a word association game, in the early 1980’s, Koko got playfully distracted before we could begin. She explored the microphone, removing its foam cover, and held it up for me to kiss and speak into.
Once settled, the game began. In the above video I first sign the word “Bite,” and Koko responds with “Nail” (after first thinking I wanted her to repeat “Bite”). Then when I sign “Nice” and ask her for the first word that comes to her mind she signs “Sleep.”
This video offers a glimpse into how Koko thinks — and how language helped her share what was on her mind. Watching this today reminded me of how much fun Koko and I had “working” together!
We are learning more every day as we digest our vast interspecies communication video archive, most of which was carefully filmed by my cofounder, Dr. Ron Cohn. We can now apply all this content to improve gorilla care and conservation, which I think Koko would have wanted us to do.
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.
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Without the support of people like you, Gorillas remain at risk.
Thank you for supporting Koko’s Legacy of gorilla conservation and care today!
