A Call from Koko

In the above video we see Koko’s understanding of a phone evolve from childhood to adulthood.
We first see 4-year-old Koko curiously interact with a phone but without fully grasping its purpose.
By age 21, Koko demonstrates a deeper understanding of this human communication tool. She even hands the phone to Penny, showing her awareness of its importance in connecting people (on the other end of the line).
Then, at age 28, Koko participates in the world’s first interspecies “web chat,” on AOL. Penny communicates directly with AOL staff via a red phone, with Koko by her side.
With millions of people connected online watching the transcript appear on the screen, and suggesting questions via texting, the AOL staff pose selected questions to Koko by asking Penny, who repeats the question in both spoken English and sign language.
Koko responds in sign language - but also asks to hold the phone and listen. She tries to respond directly by producing a loud vocalization, and later a purr.
Koko’s interactions with the phone offer a fascinating glimpse into how her unique experiences shaped her personality. We are so grateful to have learned from Koko! As a result we see gorillas as the loving, kind, and intelligent beings they are.
Through countless hours spent with Koko, I saw firsthand why gorillas deserve the same freedoms we cherish.
Gorillas are smart, empathetic, funny, complex beings who should be able to live free in their natural habitat, safe from harm!