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Press
Release |
Media
Contact: Lorraine Slater, Development Director 650-216-6450
x 15 • lorraine@koko.org |
Koko
Gets a Clean Bill of Health |
Woodside, CA – August 9, 2004. When
Koko the gorilla used American Sign Language to tell her teacher
Dr. Penny Patterson that her mouth was in pain, 12 specialists,
including three dentists, sprang into action.
When Koko began explaining her discomfort, pointing to a molar
on her upper left, Dr. Patterson devised a pain chart offering
Koko a scale from one to 10. When Koko indicated that an operation
was needed as opposed to more medicine, a dental appointment
was made. And because anesthesia would be involved, her personal
veterinarian Dr. John Ochsenreiter used this opportunity to
organize a head to toe exam.
 |
| Koko
shows Penny where she is on the pain chart. |
“She would clearly communicate her pain level using
her pain chart,” explained research assistant/gorilla
caregiver Tierra Wilson. “We were all eager to help.”
So too were twelve specialists–a Stanford cardiologist,
three anesthesiologists, three dentists, an ear nose and throat
specialist, two veterinarians, a gastroenterologist and a
gynecologist who generously volunteered their services.
"It's not often that we get to work on a celebrity,"
Dr David Liang, assistant professor of medicine at Stanford,
said. "Probably, Koko is less demanding."
The team came to Koko Sunday August 8, bringing portable X-ray,
ultrasound, and echocardiogram machines. They set up shop
at her home complete with toilet, television, DVD player and
lots of toys.
After almost five hours of tests, including a colonoscopy,
gynecological exam, dental work, radiography of the thorax,
abdomen, extremities and skull, an echocardiogram, an orthopedic
and Dermatologic exam, bronchoscopy, and an ENT exam, doctors
pronounced her fit. The only significant findings were periodontal
related and were successfully treated by Dr. Bob Turner DDS,
Dr. Joe A. Provines DMD and Dr. Merhan Fotovatjah DDS.
Koko, who celebrated her 33rd birthday on July 4, was due
for a check-up. While gorillas in captivity are known to live
into their 50s, they are susceptible to heart disease. “We
were all relieved to find out that Koko shows no signs of
any of these problems,” explained Dr. Ochsenreiter.
Koko and Ndume, her partner of 11 years, have been trying unsuccessfully
to have a baby, and the doctors thought the check-up could let
them know whether she had any biological problems preventing
it. She doesn't.
Throughout the procedure Ndume sat by a window where he could
catch glimpses of the sea of doctors and machines surrounding
Koko. When asked how he was doing Ndume responded with fluttering
his hands over his heart and clutching the hair on his head.
“Ndume was every bit the nervous boyfriend, it was my
job to keep him calm and try to soothe him during the procedure.
He was very anxious, lots of pacing and calling out to her
until we both saw that she was doing fine,” said Ndume’s
lead caregiver Serena Rose Leibrand.
Her teacher, Dr. Patterson, was at her side when the anesthesiologists
(Dr. Fred Mihm, Dr. Ethan Jackson and Dr. Parag Mathur) prepared
to put her under in the morning and was there to calm her
nerves throughout the procedure. Dr. Patterson made sure that
between herself and caregivers Jill Firstenberg, Lucas Slavik
and Tierra Wilson, Koko’s hand was held during the entire
duration of anesthesia.
Koko insisted on meeting her specialists before she went under
anesthesia. They crowded around her, and Koko, who plays favorites,
asked one woman wearing orange to come closer. The woman handed
her a business card, which Koko later politely returned. Koko
was excited and eager for her tooth to be fixed. Between yawns
she even offered some of her oral sedative to her closest
friends.
Koko is now taking it easy receiving round the clock care
from Dr. Patterson and Dr. Cohn. “She is doing exceptionally
well, purring occasionally and generally wondering what all
the fuss is about,” said Tierra Wilson. She has been
receiving special meals including a “gorilla ice cream
sundae” consisting of soy ice cream and chocolate sorbet
on a bed of soft tofu!
This clean bill of health is a revitalization for the project
and an assurance that project Koko will continue to be the
longest uninterrupted interspecies communication study for
many years to come. Koko and Ndume have been given the go
ahead by numerous specialists in the medical field to continue
with their family planning and to be hopeful for a baby in
the near future. As soon as her recovery period is over, Koko
is sure to be very busy with her end of the planning while
the Gorilla Foundation continues to organize her pending move
to the Maui Ape Preserve.
This relocation to the Maui Ape Preserve will enable
the Foundation to expand its studies in interspecies communication,
as it will provide a state of the art center for more students
to learn from Penny and her colleague–and Koko. But perhaps
more importantly, it will provide a more visible and expanded
platform from which Koko, whose species is seriously endangered,
can speak out on behalf of all endangered species, especially
those in her new home. As Hawaii is the endangered species capital
of the world, it is a most fitting venue from which to deliver
that message. Koko, with her unique ability to communicate,
can hopefully rally support to save not only man's closest relatives,
the apes, but also all species who are under threat of extinction–in
Hawaii and elsewhere–because of the actions of humans.
YOU
can help. |
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