Koko 46

[Mike Scott]

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

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/koko-the-gorilla-who-knew-sign-language-dies-at-46/ar-AAyXm48?ocid=spartandhp

[Lunkenstein]

RIP Koko

[Doh!]

That's sad, actually. I find apes fascinating, and Koko especially. From what I read online, gorillas in the wild live to be about 30 to 40, so she had a pretty good run.

[Mike Scott]

I saw a doc. (or 2) on her. Fascinating to be able to converse with another species! To know what they're feeling, or what they think about this, or that. Wish you could do that with a dog. "Hey, let me out! I gotta take a dump!"

[Nosferatu79]

Some humans doubted that Koko truly understood sign language, but these humans were proved wrong:

When Koko was shown a ring, and asked what it was, she called it a "finger bracelet" - showing that she could think and reason. Even more important to me than her intelligence was her emotional depth.

I also found both of these aspects very easy to believe. And yes, it was indeed fascinating to know how she felt, and what she thought about life. I don't consider a human to be "better" than our fellow animals, so it was very touching to learn from Koko just how much we have in common.

I'm sorry that this sweet, caring, thoughtful soul has passed. 
I'm thankful that she lived a long life for a gorilla, and that she went peacefully in her sleep.
But it's still sad, because she was wonderful.

RIP Koko   

[Monsters For Sale]

Some humans doubted that Koko truly understood sign language, but these humans were proved wrong:

When Koko was shown a ring, and asked what it was, she called it a "finger bracelet" - showing that she could think and reason. Even more important to me than her intelligence was her emotional depth.... 

Koko also made up her own descriptions for:

        Duck = "water bird"
        Watermelon = "fruit drink"

How often have we looked into our pets' eyes and wondered what they were thinking?

[Mike Scott]

How often have we looked into our pets' eyes and wondered what they were thinking?

For dogs, it's mostly "I wanna play/go out/go for a walk.", or "Is it time to eat?"

[Monsters For Sale]

For dogs, it's mostly "I wanna play/go out/go for a walk.", or "Is it time to eat?"

Maybe they are looking into our eyes and wonder what the hell we are thinking.

[Mike Scott]

Maybe they are looking into our eyes and wonder what the hell we are thinking.

Whoa, man! You just blew my mind, man!