The Gorilla Foundation is a non-profit that pioneered interspecies communication with gorillas like Koko and works to save them from extinction. Conservation through Interspecies Communication. The Gorilla Foundation was established in 1976 and is best known for its groundbreaking communication research with gorillas Koko and Michael and its application to improved gorilla care and conservation. The mission of the Gorilla Foundation is to bring interspecies communication to the public, in order to save gorillas from extinction, and inspire our children to create a sustainable future for all great apes. Since its inception in 1976, the Foundation has been dedicated to the non-invasive study of gorillas for its intrinsic value as well as to foster conservation and improved of the species. Our motto is: Conservation through Communication.