RIP, Koko. I’ve followed this beautiful girl since she was a baby.
Waiting for Ivanka to make a tone deaf tweet lamenting this tremendous loss.
I think she had a good life, or as good a life as a gorilla can have these days. RIP.
Also, this is why outside cats are a bad idea.
Exactly what I was thinking. Didn’t realize that’s how All Ball died.
She was really amazing - not just the communication, but the emotion and kindness she showed toward humans and other animals.
And:
"She appeared in many documentaries and twice in National Geographic. The gorilla’s 1978 cover featured a photo that the animal had taken of herself in a mirror."
Taking a selfie before selfies were even a thing.
The story of Koko and Dr. Patterson is wonderful in itself and in its implications of cross-species awareness. I didn’t know that Koko was still alive, but I celebrate her long and remarkable life.
And yet the far less articulate Donald J. Trump still lives. There is no God.
By far a smarter and more empathetic Homininae than the one currently occupying the Oval Trailer.
RIP Koko…
If you’ve never seen the video of her and Robin Williams, go find it on YouTube. It’s amazingly wonderful.
More likely Melania comes off her plane in a gorilla suit ala Dietrich in Blonde Venus.
Another person posted: “At least Koko can finally be reunited with All Ball.”
She might also get to meet Nim Chimpsky.
Re: “outside cats”
Depends on where they live.
My undergrad roommate got to work at the Gorilla Foundation during school, mostly with Michael.
We didn’t talk much about what he saw there; most likely, an undergrad wouldn’t be getting very interesting assignments. Mostly, he would come home and start pulling clothes off, complaining of smelling like gorilla piss. Damn. Gorilla Piss: For Untamed Man was going to be the foundation of my future billion-dollar empire in fragrances.
There was one time when he reported a bit of a fright at the foundation. Michael had become fascinated with the pattern or color of a visiting woman’s dress and grabbed a handful for a closer look. The dress didn’t tear, so the woman was pinned to the bars and about as frightened as you would expect. It all ended okay, though I don’t remember any details. Gorilla strength is no joke.
If my roommate ever shared his nipples with Koko, he never said anything to me about it. I doubt Koko would have been impressed anyway.
Any successful communication with animals helps us feel less alone as a species on this planet.
I don’t have to believe in gorilla heaven to smile at the thought that Koko and All Ball are sharing it together.
Me sad (