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Koko (gorilla)

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Koko (born July 4, 1971, in San Francisco, California) is a lowland gorilla who, according to Francine 'Penny' Patterson, is able to understand more than 1,000 signs based on American Sign Language,[1] and understand approximately 2,000 words of spoken English.[2] She has lived most of her life in Woodside, California, although a move to a sanctuary in Maui, Hawaii has been planned since the 1990s.[3] 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 [who?] say that Koko's use of signs, and her actions consistent with her use of signs, indicate she has mastered the use of sign language.[1] Others argue[who?] that 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 (indicating that her actions are the product of operant conditioning).[4][5] However, the latter position is not consistent with the claims that Koko uses the language freely and in novel ways, even when there is no foreseeable gratification.[6] 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.

Patterson says she has documented Koko inventing new signs to communicate novel thoughts. For example, she says that nobody taught Koko the word for "ring", therefore to refer to it she combined the words "finger" and "bracelet", hence "finger-bracelet". Similarly, Patterson says that Koko invented "drink-fruit" (melon), "water-bird" (swan) and "animal-person" (gorilla).

Criticism from some parts of the scientific community centers on the fact that while publications often appear in the popular press about Koko, scientific publications are fewer in number.[7][8]

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. Patterson has assessed Koko's vocabulary at over 1,000 signs, which would place her among the most proficient non-human users of language.[9][unreliable source?]

Michael and Ndume

Patterson claims that Michael, a gorilla who lived with Koko for several years, also developed a broad vocabulary of signs, over 600, but did not become as proficient as Koko 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 written by 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.[10]

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.[11]

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

In a 1998 episode of Seinfeld's 9th season entitled "The Dealership", David Puddy and Jerry Seinfeld talk about Koko the gorilla (or chimp in this episode) while Jerry is buying a car.

In a 1998 episode of Seinfeld entitled "The Maid," George's boss gives him the nickname "Koko the Monkey" after observing his ape-like gesticulations.[12]

In the show American Dad!, Father Donovan claims that men, women, children, and apes that use sign language (possibly referring to Koko), go to heaven.

In an episode of Monster Garage, Koko was built a new cage and vehicle to transport her. Later in the episode Jesse James visited Koko with the flowers and vehicle.

Sexual harassment

Koko has been involved in a number of sexual harassment lawsuits.[13] At least three female former employees have claimed that they were pressured into showing their breasts to Koko. They alleged that 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. Patterson claims that Koko uses the word "nipple" to refer to humans.[14]

All claims of harassment have been permanently dropped as of November 21, 2005 after the foundation and the parties involved reached a settlement.[15]

Jody Weiner, Koko's lawyer, writes about Koko and sexual harassment in the book Kinship With Animals.[16]

See also

References

See also extensive References section at Animal language.

  1. ^ a b Fischer, Steven R. (1999). A History of Language. Reaktion Books. pp. 26–28. ISBN 186189080X.
  2. ^ Wise, Steven M. (2003). Drawing the Line: Science and the Case for Animal Rights. Basic Books. p. 216. ISBN 0738208108.
  3. ^ "CHECK IT OUT: Gorilla project under redesign". The Maui News. 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2008-05-26. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Candland, Douglas Keith (1993). Feral Children and Clever Animals: Reflections on Human Nature. Oxford University Press US. pp. 293–301. ISBN 0195102843.
  5. ^ Blackmore, Susan J. (2000). The Meme Machine. Oxford University Press. p. 88. ISBN 019286212X.
  6. ^ Steinberg, Danny D. (2006). An Introduction to Psycholinguistics. Pearson Education. pp. 109–110. ISBN 0582505755. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Patterson, FG. (1981). "Ape Language". Science. 211 (4477): 86–88. doi:10.1126/science.211.4477.86-a. PMID 7444454.
  8. ^ Patterson, FG. (1978). "The gestures of a gorilla: language acquisition in another pongid". Brain and language. 5: 72. doi:10.1016/0093-934X(78)90008-1. {{cite journal}}: More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  9. ^ Gorilla Foundation - Gorilla Intelligence and Behavior
  10. ^ Koko.org - Koko's World - Talk To Koko
  11. ^ BBC NEWS | World | Americas | 'Talking' gorilla demands dentist
  12. ^ Seinfeld Lists - The Maid 
  13. ^ Benham, Kelley (2005-03-10). "Bad gorilla, Koko! Bad gorilla!". St. Petersburg Times.
  14. ^ "Are gorillas using sign language really communicating with humans?". The Straight Dope. 2003-03-28.
  15. ^ Sweetingham, Lisa (2005-11-25). "Women drop sexual harassment suit against gorilla's caretaker". CourtTV.
  16. ^ Michael Tobias, Kate Solisti, ed. (2006). Kinship With Animals. Tulsa: Council Oak Books. ISBN 1571781897.

Further reading

  • Patterson, F. G. P. (2001). "Twenty-seven Years of Project Koko and Michael". All Apes Great and Small: African Apes. Springer. pp. 165–176. ISBN 0-306-46757-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)

Online video

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