Koko, the gorilla who knew sign language, dies at 46

WOODSIDE, Calif. — Koko, the gorilla who mastered sign language, has died.
The Gorilla Foundation says the 46-year-old western lowland gorilla died in her sleep at the foundation's preserve in California's Santa Cruz mountains on Tuesday. Source

I intentionally put this under the 'People' forum as Koko, and other primates like her, have demonstrated a level of self-awareness, personality, sentience and the ability to communicate abstractly that we attribute to us hairless monkeys.

Koko always fascinated me as she found other apes, unable to communicate in sign language like her, as 'stupid' and, to her credit, also called many humans 'stupid'.

Her ability to communicate and devise ways to communicate about items/objects she had never seen before, displays a level of intelligence we tend not to ascribe to living things other than humans. There are numerous examples of her creating new sign language phrases and even 'talking to herself' when she was unware that she was being recorded via hidden cameras.

Take some time today and ponder what it means to be 'a person' and what maks each of us so unique and extraordinary and then stop and think how wonderful and extraordniary Koko was and what she was able to teach us in her 46 years on this planet.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

At least she's with Harambe now.

And now the transhumanists are free to run wild with her DNA.

originally posted by: watchitburn
At least she's with Harambe now.

And Harambe is with Jesus, so it all works out.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

R. I. P. Koko - your story touched the lives of millions of people
Legends never die

originally posted by: FamCore
R. I. P. Koko - your story touched the lives of millions of people
Legends never die

Truly. I don't think she's finished teaching us everything we can learn about her and how higher intelligence functions.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: FamCore
R. I. P. Koko - your story touched the lives of millions of people
Legends never die

Truly. I don't think she's finished teaching us everything we can learn about her and how higher intelligence functions.

Koko KNEW too much!



I blame Hillary.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

This is a sad first day of summer in the primate world. Koko if I recall had a kitten that she named “All-ball”. It was the cutest damn thing to see this immense beast display significant and quantifiable intelligence, but what’s more was they depth and level of caring she showed for her kitten. Seeing that great baby kitty in these giant beast hands was such a powerful scene in terms of life. It was like the ultimate “Tiger nurses puppies” or “baby goats play with deer” videos.

Sleep well Koko, your lessons aren’t lost on this human

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

Wait what?! That came from left field...

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Why am I thinking of Congo?
Amy good good gorilla. Ugly woman lol.
I was fascinated by Koko too. Didn't she have a kitten for a pet once? We have so much in common.
Although I'm so hairless I don't even have to shave my legs.

originally posted by: slatesteam
This is a sad first day of summer in the primate world. Koko if I recall had a kitten that she named “All-ball”. It was the cutest damn thing to see this immense beast display significant and quantifiable intelligence, but what’s more was they depth and level of caring she showed for her kitten. Seeing that great baby kitty in these giant beast hands was such a powerful scene in terms of life. It was like the ultimate “Tiger nurses puppies” or “baby goats play with deer” videos.

Sleep well Koko, your lessons aren’t lost on this human

I totally forgot about her kitten. I think she derived as much joy and pleasure as we do from our own pets and I'm sure it was a welcome comfort to her.

originally posted by: Sillyolme
Why am I thinking of Congo?

Michael Crichton based the character on Koko.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

All apes go to heaven?
Crossing that rainbow bridge.

originally posted by: Sillyolme
All apes go to heaven?
Crossing that rainbow bridge.

Not this one. I've got reservations elsewhere.

originally posted by: slatesteam
a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

Wait what?! That came from left field...

Reppin the Above Top Secret. This aint a freaking petting zoo.

Koko was also an artist.
Pretty impressive.


Early work:


Portrait of another gorilla:


Final:

I liked when Koko tried to sign to another gorilla who couldn't sign.

After trying she signed, "stupid animal" and gave up!

Oh, and when George Costanza did not get the nickname "T-bone" but got "Koko" instead!

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Well, this is so sad. I always loved Koko and her intelligence, her sweet nature, and her voice.

didn't she also talk to robin williams on at least one occasion?
truly an exceptional...what? creature? half human? more human? who knows.
i just hope somewhere in her head she knew that she has inspired countless people to understand, appreciate, and preserve her kind, and maybe reflect on who, way too often, the real animal is.

Koko was so freaking cool. She loved Mister Rogers, Robin Williams and her cat. Called ketchup tomato toothpaste, rings were finger bracelets.(She may as well have been taught german )

Her trainer admitted that Koko herself wasn't that special, in that any gorilla given her type of treatment would most likely be able communicate just as well. But, it was her personality that made us all fall in love with her.