Sign Language Gorilla Celebrity: KOKO The Gorilla

Welcome Pet Lovers to my Koko The Gorilla Tribute Page aka Hanabiko, The Sign Language Gorilla Celebrity.

Please join our experiment of finding out who is the most beloved Animal Celebrity by submitting your votes below <3

MY RATING Summary

I’m sure I’m not the only one who discovered Koko from the video segment where she met actor Robin Williams, whom she was a fan of.
And just like us, animal lovers, Koko the Gorilla also liked cats, and she was so happy when she got herself a kitten as a present.
I also recalled when they talked about which Alpha Male gorilla she had a crush on.

It’s just fascinating to know that Gorillas can do sign language and that they also have feelings.

VIDEO: Sign Language Gorilla

PROFILE: Koko The Gorilla

TRIVIA

• Name – Originally named Hanabiko, which means “fireworks child” in Japanese, because she was born on Independence Day (July 4)
• Sign Language Star – Koko the Gorilla learned over 1,000 signs in Gorilla Sign Language (GSL) and could understand about 2,000 spoken English words.
• Pet Lover – She famously had a pet kitten named All Ball, which she treated like her baby.
• Emotional Intelligence: Koko once expressed sadness when she learned of the passing of actor Robin Williams, whom she had met.
• Self-Recognition – She passed the mirror test, showing self-awareness by recognizing her reflection.
• Bookworm Gorilla – Koko loved picture books, especially The Three Little Kittens and Puss in Boots.
• Artistic Side – She enjoyed drawing and even painted simple artworks, showing creativity.
• Birthday Requests – On her birthday, she sometimes requested kittens or other gifts through sign language.
• A Pioneer – Koko the Gorilla was the first non-human to participate in video chats with other gorillas.

LINKS 

Website:
www.koko.org

Donation:
SupportKoko

Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter X
YouTube

Others:
MostWantedCreatures
Wikipedia

Book:

Koko’s Kitten

KEY INFORMATION about Sign Language Gorillas

What They Are
These are gorillas trained to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) or modified gestures to express thoughts, needs, and emotions.

Famous Individuals

• Koko: The most well-known, Koko was a western lowland gorilla taught by Dr. Francine “Penny” Patterson.

• Michael: Another gorilla raised alongside Koko, who also learned many signs.

• Ndume: A male gorilla who lived with Koko and knew some sign language.

Emotional Intelligence
These gorillas showed signs of empathy, humor, grief, and affection, challenging past assumptions about animal cognition.

Scientific Debate
While many were amazed by the results, some scientists questioned whether the gorillas truly understood language or were mimicking signs for rewards.

Legacy
Koko and others sparked global interest in animal communication, conservation, and gorilla intelligence.

Fun Fact
Koko famously had pet kittens and was gentle and loving with them, even naming one “All Ball.”

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