Famed sign-language gorilla Koko dies in California

[truebluefan]

The famed gorilla Koko, known for mastering sign language and building a rapport with humans, has died in California, a research center has announced. She was 46.

Born Hanabi-ko (Japanese for “Fireworks Child”) on US independence day in 1971 at San Francisco Zoo, she was widely known by her nickname. Animal psychologist Penny Patterson began teaching Koko sign language in 1972.

The western lowland gorilla became one of the most famous subjects of research into how apes use language, reputedly learning more than 1,000 words in American Sign Language, and becoming the subject of books and television shows.

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/06/famed-sign-language-gorilla-koko-dies-california/