Koko the signing gorilla has died

Yes, this is indeed sad. Just a few months ago I watched a documentary on her for Anthropology, and it was quite sad. Still remember how she moyurned Robin Williams' death

Now then. What do you think the Gorilla Foundation's going to do with Ndume? Will they transfer him to San Francisco with Rich and his girls?
 
I've been sad about this news all week. Koko was such a fantastic animal, probably one of the most famous individuals in modern times, and I would have really loved to have met her.

Though I've been hearing some conflicting opinions on her 'parent' and the research surrounding her, namely from ape enthusiasts who believe Koko was deprived of 'a proper life'. I can see where they're coming from, but on the other hand without Koko there would have been no way to make the breakthroughs Penny Patterson documented. Thoughts?
 
Scottish Wildcat said:
I've been hearing some conflicting opinions on her 'parent' and the research surrounding her, namely from ape enthusiasts who believe Koko was deprived of 'a proper life'. I can see where they're coming from, but on the other hand without Koko there would have been no way to make the breakthroughs Penny Patterson documented. Thoughts?
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Yeah, these are some of my thoughts too. I take the middle route: yes there could have been better ways, but still.
 
Has the work on Koko been published? I have seen the documentary and it is wonderful. Research is of limited use unless properly written up, and this work needs to be properly analysed and made widely available.
 
Carl Jones said:
Has the work on Koko been published? I have seen the documentary and it is wonderful. Research is of limited use unless properly written up, and this work needs to be properly analysed and made widely available.
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Masses has been published, going back to the 1970s. However, as with other attempts to teach apes sign language (e.g. Washoe the chimp and Princess the orangutan), its scientific validity is somewhere between questionable and bankrupt.
 
I was always struck by the emotional depth of her feelings about things and people. The way she actually communicated her thoughts about her kitten or her favorite TV personas was, for lack of a more unique descriptor, incredibly human.

It makes one think about how differently we should be looking at and treating apes in captivity. I hope, somehow, further ways for us to connect with our fellow great apes can be unearthed.
 
Giant Panda said:
Masses has been published, going back to the 1970s. However, as with other attempts to teach apes sign language (e.g. Washoe the chimp and Princess the orangutan), its scientific validity is somewhere between questionable and bankrupt.
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I have always wondered about the authenticity of Ape 'sign language' also. Was Koko the gorilla really using sign language or were all her ritualised movements just abstract and copied from humans? I have seen other handraised gorillas (not trained in any way) adopt unusual mannerisms or signals which they have developed from their close contact with people. But afaik these are meaningless. And could Koko really master the use of English Language?- I find that even more implausible. Where is the proof she could do any of these things?
 
Okapipako said:
I was always struck by the emotional depth of her feelings about things and people. The way she actually communicated her thoughts about her kitten or her favorite TV personas was, for lack of a more unique descriptor, incredibly human.

It makes one think about how differently we should be looking at and treating apes in captivity. I hope, somehow, further ways for us to connect with our fellow great apes can be unearthed.
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I still think it is sad that Koko never had a friend or partner of her own kind. That was not fair to Koko..
 
Giant Panda said:
Masses has been published, going back to the 1970s. However, as with other attempts to teach apes sign language (e.g. Washoe the chimp and Princess the orangutan), its scientific validity is somewhere between questionable and bankrupt.
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Can you please give the reference to the main review publication on the work with Koko? I would love to read more about him. Thanks.
 
Carl Jones said:
Can you please give the reference to the main review publication on the work with Koko? I would love to read more about him. Thanks.
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This account would be widely disputed, but sure.

Patterson, F. G., & Cohn, R. H. (1990). Language acquisition by a lowland gorilla: Koko's first ten years of vocabulary development. Word, 41(2), 97-143.
 
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