Moment of Silence: Koko

[ysabetwordsmith]

Koko the gorilla has passed away.  She was famous for knowing sign language and understanding many words in English.  I know her through many articles on zoology and linguistics.  She will be deeply missed.

Comments

Oh, terrible!

[dialecticdreamer]

Did the scientists confirm whether sign language is being taught to young chimps in the wild? THAT was still up in the air-- The studies involved an entirely different group of researchers and animals, but kept getting conflated with Koko in the news articles and searches.

Re: Oh, terrible!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I don't know. I do know that mother primates who can sign have taught it to their infants, without prompting. It's convenient so they use it.

[technoshaman]

Aw, MAN! Poor Koko! Wow! I did not know she was nearly as old as me... I did know the great apes live for a while, but....

*snif* *taps chest, then draws a finger from cheek to side of chin* Bear sad.

[gehayi]

Koko was such a nice person. I don't want her to be dead.

I hope she goes to heaven and that her kitten All Ball is there to greet her.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That was my first thought too.

Re: Yes ...

[earthspirits]

I love Koko, such a sweet, loving, gentle soul - I miss her.