Rest in Peace, Koko

[romanigypsyeyes]

Koko the gorilla has died. She taught humans so much about what non-human animals could do.

If I could go back in time and change my major in college, I’d major in something that would allow me to go into primatology. Koko’s story has always fascinated me and she was the reason I first started learning ASL.

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/21/622160278/koko-the-gorilla-dies-redrew-the-lines-of-animal-human-communication

[Nrdsb4]

I’m so sad to hear this. RIP sweet Koko.

[bobo44]

Awwwww. Just saw her with Mr. Rogers in the documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.” Hard to tell which was kinder and sweeter: Koko or Mr. R. But they sure seemed to bond!

[JustaMom]

I received a text this morning from D (now 30) “JustAKid sad. JustAKid love Koko”

My D and I adored Koko! We have books and videos from way back. I remember the Mr. Rogers episode with Koko!

• Koko taught us all so much. RIP sweet Koko.

[stradmom]

This makes me sad.

[stradmom]

I’ll miss Koko.

[jym626]

Who remembers this video of Koko losing her kitten? Now we cry for Koko.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQCOHUXmEZg

[inthegarden]

KoKo’s Kitten_ was one of the books I read over and over to my daughter when she was little. I used to want to be a primatologist with I was young (inspired by Jane Goodall and the chimps.) Yes, it makes my heart ache.

[jym626]

https://www.popsci.com/koko-sign-language-gorilla

Koko, the gorilla famous for her ability to communicate using American Sign Language, died in her sleep Tuesday morning at age 46. Her passing leaves the world to mourn the loss of a most beloved primate, who gave humans an unprecedented window into the thoughts of another species.

That Koko was incredible is indisputable. She clearly thought so, too—“queen” was one of the first signs she used to describe herself. And she got publicity that royalty would envy. Koko graced the cover of National Geographic twice; one cover captured a tender moment between Koko and her pet kitten “All Ball” (Koko was fond of rhymes), the other, Koko snapped herself using a camera in the mirror.

Koko made a remarkable contribution to our understanding of primate cognition and the species’ capacity for communication. She could execute more than 1,000 signs (and some new ones, like barrette, she supposedly concocted herself), and respond to 2,000 words of spoken English.

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/21/622160278/koko-the-gorilla-dies-redrew-the-lines-of-animal-human-communication

[JustaMom]

@inthegarden - I pawed through the books my D saved through the years, and Koko’s Kitten was right there! It’s so worn from the (seriously) thousands of times we read it together. I’m getting a box frame for it.