Koko the Gorilla, dead at 46

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https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/koko-the-gorilla-who-knew-sign-language-dies-at-46-1.3982713
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.

Koko was born at the San Francisco Zoo, and Dr. Francine Patterson began teaching the gorilla sign language that became part of a Stanford University project in 1974.

The foundation says Koko's capacity for language and empathy opened the minds and hearts of millions.

Koko appeared in many documentaries and twice in National Geographic. The gorilla's 1978 cover featured a photo that the animal had taken of herself in a mirror.
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Aww! I remember reading about her cats when I was little, so cute that she had pets. :(

F
 
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She led such a strange life. Awareness isn't necessarily a good thing to give somebody who lives their life imprisoned. Glad she passed in her sleep. Poor girl.
 
Most people like to think of animals as unintelligent and ignorant to our attempts to communicate with them. It's kind of a weird feeling when an animal that was capable of expressing itself and it's feelings in a way similar to our own passes. Whether its birds or apes or other animals capable of communicating with us, I think moments like this leave a sense that we aren't as alone in our position of intelligent beings as we think.
 
She lived a long life and was proof that certain types of animals like her could master the human langauge (even if its rudimentary) .

F.
 
F :'(

I was really fascinated by her. I didn't know how gentle and human-like Gorillas can be.

Rest in piece sweet old girl.

:feels::feels::feels:
 
A gorilla worth pressing F for. Koko managed to show that Gorillas were extremely intelligent and can be peaceful.
 
I read a piece about the time Mr. Rogers went to see her, and she mimed taking her shoes off, like he would do on his show.
 
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