Re drawing the lines of animal human communication “koko”the gorilla’s abilities made headlines thorough out her life. She could communicate with humans in the American sign language. She learnt to use more than 1000 sign languages from her trainer Dr Francine “Penny” Petterson.
In the year 1985 Koko asked for a cat for Christmas when she was given a stuffed kitten with which she refused to play. On her birthday the same year, researchers gifted her with a litter of kittens and let her choose one. Koko chose a gray and white kitten that she named “All Ball.” She would play with her and cuddle her and the cat too treated her as a human.
She was featured by National Geographic in the year 1978.
“Koko” was 46 when she died in her sleep today.
