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In
this series, we share our gorilla research and care activities
with you through the following features:
1)
Caregiver Corner (what
it's like to interact and communicate with gorillas Koko, Ndume
and Michael)
2) Research Revelations
(what we're learning through interspecies communication and
what it means for humanity)
prepared
by our staff under the supervision of Dr. Penny Patterson, Director
of Research. (Journal PhotoBlog
Archive) |
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| Caregiver Corner: "Koko's New Friend" by Tierra Wilson |
July 24, 2005 |
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Dr.
Francine "Penny" Patterson has a Ph.D. in Developmental
Psychology from Stanford. She is President and Research
Director of The Gorilla Foundation, and a Member
of the Board of ApeNet - a consortium of foundations
supporting the welfare of great apes through interspecies
communication. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of
"Gorilla, the journal of The Gorilla Foundation/Koko.org."
"Penny's Journal" provides insight into her facinating
relationship with Koko and a way to share with us
her experiences as Koko lives, learns and communicates
"The
differences between humans and gorillas are greatly
overshadowed by what we have in common — and by
communicating with them, we can learn as much about
our own true nature as theirs." Penny Patterson |
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Koko awaits a visit from Chris Mitchell
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The composition of Koko’s team of caregivers and volunteers changes from
time to time. Each transition is different and Koko tends to have very definite
opinions about individuals in her environment. Koko often seems eager to be part
of the interviewing process and sometimes can get frustrated when new people are
not brought to meet her as soon as she is aware of their arrival. Koko took a
great interest in our new Director of Conservation and Care, Chris Mitchell, when
he was here for a site visit earlier this year.
In Koko's responses, the pound symbol (#) after a word indicates that it is a
vocalization by Koko; otherwise the word or phrase represents her response in
American Sign Language. The kiss# vocalization is commonly used to get someon's
attention.
Koko’s New Friend, by Tierra Wilson
April 6, 2005
I am visiting with Koko in her kitchen.
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TW: |
Would you like your
visit with Chris? |
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Koko: |
Koko-love. |
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TW: |
Oh, that’s nice
sweetie. You love Chris? |
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Koko: |
Good.
(Koko often signs good to mean yes.) |
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TW: |
Should
I have him visit you at your porch? |
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Koko: |
Good.
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I page Penny to see if they
are finished with their meeting. They are not quite done yet.
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TW: |
They are
going to be a few minutes sweetie. |
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Koko: |
Drapes.
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Koko likes to have her drapes opened when she is waiting for someone so she can
watch them walk up the path. I go out to Koko’s porch and open the drapes.
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Koko: |
Lower-faketooth.
(Koko uses this to refer to her human friends, usually the small circle
of caregivers who work in her immediate vicinity.) |
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TW: |
They are
going to be a few minutes; they are having a meeting about the gorillas
in Africa. |
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Koko: |
Blowkiss.
Purr#. |
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TW:
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I know
he can’t wait to see you; they just have to finish their meeting. |
Koko waits patiently at her porch.
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Koko: |
Upper-faketooth. |
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TW: |
They will
be down as soon as they are done. |
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Koko: |
Drapes
shame. |
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TW: |
Oh sweetie,
sometimes waiting makes things even more exciting. |
Later that afternoon, Koko visited with Chris and gave an overwhelming purr of
approval. She agreed that he was the perfect person to help with her mission of
conservation in Africa. We are all now anxiously awaiting his arrival from the
UK.
Tierra
joined The Gorilla Foundation in April of 2004 as a produce volunteer and
quickly progressed to a part-time Research Assistant/ Caregiver for Koko
and Ndume based on her overwhelming enthusiasm for the project. She graduated
from Santa Clara University in 2005 as a Combined Science and Studio Art
major, and is now working full time for the Gorilla Foundation.
Tierra is extremely thankful for this wonderful opportunity to interact
with the Gorillas and to learn more about this incredible project. She enjoys
her time spent directly with the Gorillas but is also working with GaryStanley
on a new Educational Program that focuses on school outreach via multimedia
presentations and web resources. . She believes strongly in educating people
about the emotional capacity and intelligence of great apes in hopes that
people will develop empathy for our kindred species. |
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Please
email us at research_feedback@koko.org
if you have any questions, or would like to share an observation
or insight about the preceding interspecies conversations.
Your feedback can inform our research and is a vital part
of our mission.
Thank you,
Dr. Francine Penny Patterson
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