‘An ambassador for her species’: Koko, the gorilla who mastered sign language, dies aged 46

A gorilla who mastered communicating by sign language has died at the age of 46.

Western lowland gorilla Koko died at the Gorilla Foundation’s preserve in California’s Santa Cruz mountains on Tuesday.

Gorilla Foundation said in a statement: ‘Koko – the gorilla known for her extraordinary mastery of sign language, and as the primary ambassador for her endangered species – passed away yesterday [Wednesday] morning in her sleep at the age of 46.

‘Koko touched the lives of millions as an ambassador for all gorillas and an icon for interspecies communication and empathy.

‘She was beloved and will be deeply missed.’

Koko was born at the San Francisco Zoo and Dr Francine Patterson began teaching the gorilla sign language that became part of a Stanford University project in 1974.

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She appeared in many TV documentaries and twice in National Geographic. The magazine’s 1978 cover featured a photo that the gorilla had taken in a mirror.

Koko also adopted and named pets, including a kitten she called All Ball.

A foundation spokesman said it will honour Koko’s legacy with a sign language application for the benefit of gorillas and children, as well as other projects.