Dear Supporter,In the above video, a young Koko has a conversation with her former caregiver Kate, a native signer of American Sign Language. I’m just an observer! Koko signs about herself, the game she wants, to play (“chase”) and finally focuses on color signs (“red”) when Kate brings her a flower (which she proceeds to eat).
Kate models the signs for Koko (“red” and “color”), and Koko signs back.
This is an example of the diverse selection of caregivers that worked with Koko. Each contributed their own experience, and Koko interacted differently with all of them.
Those were exciting years, when little Koko was on an upward learning curve, and we both learned something new every day!
We will continue learning from Koko and share everything we learn with you. It is our mission is to apply this knowledge to save and protect gorillas like Koko — and as a child once observed: “All gorillas are Kokos!”
With Koko-Love,
Dr. Penny Patterson
President, CEO and Founder
The Gorilla Foundation / Koko.org
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Conservation through Communication
