Dear Friend,

In the above video, we share another preview of our new Koko Digital Archive project (KokoArc) based on nearly 5 decades of integrated research and care with gorillas Koko, Michael and Ndume. This one features Koko's sense of humor.

Video Overview: "Koko's Sense of Humor"

Koko liked to make jokes. She enjoyed the reaction they would get. In the first clip I read Koko a card that was sent in by some children. They want to know if Koko has a middle name. Koko responds to the question by signing that her middle name is “Devil.” Koko could certainly be a little devil at times, expressing her contrarian and mischievous side.

In the second clip Koko calls me a “gorilla,” then Koko rushes off for a game of tickle chase — cause that's what gorillas do.

Sign Summary and Time Codes:
00:27 Devil
00:40 You gorilla

Note that only myself and Ron (my Gorilla Foundation co-founder) went inside with Koko throughout her life, as we were present with her from age 1. All other caregivers remained outside the mesh and communicated with Koko via sign language and spoken English.

Video Credits

The above video shows 1 minute excerpted from a couple of different longer videos (Videos 413 and 426 in our KokoArc database), both filmed in 1990, when Koko was 19 years old, by Dr. Ronald Cohn, TGF's Chief Documentarian and co-founder.

What's Next?

We will continue to share more examples of interspecies communication with gorillas Koko, Michael and Ndume, at different stages of their development.

Only by increasing our understanding of gorillas can we motivate improved conditions for them in captivity and establish the empathy needed to protect them from extinction in Africa.

Sincerely,

The Gorilla Foundation     PO Box 620530,  Woodside, CA  94062
1-800-ME-GO-APE     [email protected]
The Gorilla Foundation is a 501(c) Nonprofit
Federal Tax ID: 942.38.6151