Dear Koko Supporter,

This video shows Koko engaging in imaginative play with a baby doll at various stages of her life, offering a unique window into her emotional and cognitive abilities. As Koko signs “baby” and interacts with the doll, we see her assign meaning and personality to toys, much like a human child.

In playful moments, Koko makes a toy alligator and lizard “bite” the baby doll, revealing her capacity for creativity and pretend play.

These behaviors highlight the depth of Koko’s intelligence and emotional awareness, showing how gorillas, like humans, engage with their environment in complex and meaningful ways.

We hope you enjoy learning about Koko’s life and appreciate its implications for her entire species — that gorillas need to be treated more like “persons”, with autonomy in captivity and protection in the wild.

Conservation through Communication

The Gorilla Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our Federal Tax ID is: 942-38-6151