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Koko (born July 4, 1971, in San Francisco, California) is the name of a captive, acculturated gorilla trained by Dr. Francine 'Penny' Patterson and other scientists at Stanford University to communicate with more than 1,000 signs based on American Sign Language, and understand approximately 2,000 words of spoken English. She has lived most of her life in Woodside, California, but plans for a move to a sanctuary at Maui, Hawaii are nearing attainment. She was also the inspiration for Amy the "talking" ape in the Michael Crichton novel Congo.

Koko is short for the name Hanabi-Ko, meaning "fireworks child" in Japanese (a reference to her date of birth, the Fourth of July).

Use of Language

Some scientists assert Koko's use of signs, and her actions consistent with her use of signs, indicate she has mastered the use of language. Others contend she does not understand the meaning behind what she is doing, but learns to complete the signs simply because the researchers reward her for doing so (i.e. that her actions are the product of operant conditioning). However, the latter position is not really consistent with the fact that Koko uses the language freely and in novel ways, even when there is no foreseeable gratification. Another concern that has been raised about Koko's ability to express coherent thoughts through the use of signs is that interpretation of the gorilla's conversation is left to the handler, who may see improbable concatenations of signs as meaningful.

However, Dr. Patterson has documented Koko inventing new signs to communicate novel thoughts. For example, she asserts that nobody taught Koko the word for "ring", therefore to refer to it she combined the words "finger" and "bracelet", hence "finger bracelet". Another event suggesting that Koko comprehends her expressions took place during a documented internet chat encounter[1] when Koko was interviewed in the presence of Dr. Patterson in regard to the possibility of offspring with her chosen mate, Ndume. Koko indicated decisively in the negative, even using terms like "toilet" and "bad" to refer to Ndume. Despite this Patterson stated to the interviewer that if more females were introduced to the compound, Ndume would be more receptive and would mate with Koko. Koko again responded in the negative, indicating that she understood and did not agree with Patterson's interpretation of her answer. At present Ndume still shows an aversion to Koko and no offspring have been sired.

Criticism from some parts of the scientific community centers around the fact that while publications often appear in the popular press about Koko, scientific publications are fewer in number (though they have certainly been published).

Such debate requires careful consideration of what it means to 'learn' or 'use' a language (see animal language for further discussion). This debate has been ongoing since the first ape sign language experiments with the chimpanzee Washoe in the 1960s. Other well-known signing apes include chimpanzee Nim Chimpsky and the orangutan Chantek. Gorillas and bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees) are relatively adept with certain forms of communication, whereas common chimpanzees and orangutans tend toward mastery of manual skills, including brachiation.

Koko's training began at the age of one. Dr. Patterson has assessed Koko's vocabulary at over 1,000 signs, which would place her among the most proficient non-human users of language [2].

Michael and Ndume

Michael, a gorilla who lived with Koko for several years, also developed a broad vocabulary of signs, but did not become as proficient before his death in 2000. Michael's caregivers believe that he witnessed and remembered his mother's death at the hands of poachers, but was unable to clearly express the event. In the PBS Nature special Koko: Conversation with a Gorilla a group of Michael's signs is interpreted to be an attempt to convey a description of his mother being shot as he watched. While it was intended that Koko and Michael might produce a baby gorilla and teach it to sign, the two saw each other as siblings and did not mate.

Another gorilla, named Ndume, was selected by Koko from a group of videotapes shown to her by her "Mother" Penny, who played several tapes showing male apes of her species, in what may be described as an attempt at "video-dating." Despite these efforts, Koko and Ndume have also not become mates.

Koko's cats

Although not unique, Koko is one of the few non-humans known to keep pets of a different species. She has cared for several cats over the years and Koko's relationship with All Ball was featured in the 1987 book Koko's Kitten (Scholastic Press, ISBN 0-590-44425-5), which was penned by Dr. Patterson.

Other gorillas known to have cared for pets include Toto.

Koko in the media

Many documentaries have been made on Koko, including Koko: A Talking Gorilla (1977). On April 27 1998, Koko held an "online chat" live on AOL. [3]

In August 2004, Koko was in the news again due to a toothache. She communicated that she was in pain, and according to her handlers was able to indicate her pain level on a scale of 1 to 10. [4]

A reference to Koko is made in the 2003 book, "In Me Own Words: The Autobiography of Bigfoot" by Graham Roumieu in the section titled, "Me and Koko."

Robin Williams did a set about his encounter with Koko in his Live on Broadway special.

Sexual harassment

Koko has been involved in several sexual harassment lawsuits.[5] At least three former employees, all female, have claimed that they were pressured into showing their breasts to Koko. They alleged that Dr. Patterson encouraged the behavior, often interpreted Koko's signs as requests for nipple display, and let them know that their job would be in danger if they "did not indulge Koko's nipple fetish." Koko has been known to playfully grab both male and female nipples without warning or provocation. Dr. Patterson claims that Koko uses the word "nipple" to refer to humans.[6]

All claims of harassment have been permanently dropped as of 21 November 2005 after the foundation and the parties involved reached a settlement. [7]

References

Patterson and Gordon, All Apes Great and Small: African Apes, Chapter 11. ISBN 0-306-46757-7
See also extensive References section at Animal language.

External links

Gorilla Foundation - koko.org, the official site about Koko
ApeNet.org - 'ApeNet: a consortium of foundations and individuals who support interconnecting great apes with each other, as well as with humans, through enculturation and technology'
A transcript of the AOL chat on April 27, 1998
SFGate.com - 'Gorilla Foundation rocked by breast display lawsuit: Former employees say they were told to expose chests', Patricia Yollin, San Francisco Chronicle (February 18 2005)
Stanford.edu - When Koko the gorilla needs a checkup, Stanford docs swing into action', Mitzi Baker

Online video

PBS.org - 'A Conversation With Koko', PBS

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 Some scientists assert Koko's use of signs, and her actions consistent with her use of signs, indicate she has mastered the use of [[language]]. Others contend she does not understand the meaning behind what she is doing, but learns to complete the signs simply because the researchers reward her for doing so (i.e. that her actions are the product of [[operant conditioning]]). However, the latter position is not really consistent with the fact that Koko uses the language freely and in novel ways, even when there is no foreseeable gratification. Another concern that has been raised about Koko's ability to express coherent thoughts through the use of signs is that interpretation of the gorilla's conversation is left to the handler, who may see improbable concatenations of signs as meaningful.
-However, Dr. Patterson has documented Koko inventing new signs to communicate novel thoughts. For example, she asserts that nobody taught Koko the word for "ring", therefore to refer to it she combined the words "finger" and "bracelet", hence "finger bracelet". Another event suggesting that Koko comprehends her expressions took place during a documented internet chat encounter[http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/4451/KokoLiveChat.html] when Koko was interviewed in the presence of Dr. Patterson in regard to the possibility of offspring with her chosen mate, Ndume.Koko indicated decisively in the negative, even using terms like "toilet" and "bad" to refer to Ndume. Despite this Patterson stated to the interviewer that if more females were introduced to the compound, Ndume would be more receptive and would mate with Koko. Koko again responded in the negative, indicating that she understood and did not agree with Patterson's interpretation of her answer. At present Ndume still shows an aversion to Koko and no offspring have been sired.
+However, Dr. Patterson has documented Koko inventing new signs to communicate novel thoughts. For example, she asserts that nobody taught Koko the word for "ring", therefore to refer to it she combined the words "finger" and "bracelet", hence "finger bracelet". Another event suggesting that Koko comprehends her expressions took place during a documented internet chat encounter[http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/4451/KokoLiveChat.html] when Koko was interviewed in the presence of Dr. Patterson in regard to the possibility of offspring with her chosen mate, Ndume.  Koko indicated decisively in the negative, even using terms like "toilet" and "bad" to refer to Ndume. Despite this Patterson stated to the interviewer that if more females were introduced to the compound, Ndume would be more receptive and would mate with Koko. Koko again responded in the negative, indicating that she understood and did not agree with Patterson's interpretation of her answer. At present Ndume still shows an aversion to Koko and no offspring have been sired.
 Criticism from some parts of the scientific community centers around the fact that while publications often appear in the popular press about Koko, scientific publications are fewer in number (though they have certainly been published).