A Few Years Before Koko Passed Away, She Shared an Important Message to Humankind that Needs to Be Heard Now More Than Ever

The world was struck with grief once again when the beloved gorilla, Koko, passed away at the age of 46.

Koko's ability to use sign language to communicate with people warmed the hearts of millions worldwide.

She even became best friends with Robin Williams, and felt tremendous grief after learning about his tragic death in 2014.

It wasn't just Koko's ability to learn American Sign Language that stunned the world, it was her empathetic personality and worldview that everyone found to be so fascinating.

As Koko got better at communicating, thanks to the efforts of animal psychologist Francine "Penny" Patterson, many people wondered, "What could ape say to mankind?"

The former San Francisco Zoo resident actually had a lot of important things to say.

Gorillas may not be smarter than humans, but we sure could learn a lot from them.

A few years before Koko passed away, she shared an important message to humankind that needs to be heard now more than ever.

For the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Koko had an important message for world leaders.

"I am gorilla. I am flowers, animals. I am nature," she began signing in front of a dark background.

"Man Koko love. Earth Koko love," she continued. "But man stupid, stupid! Koko sorry. Koko cry. Time hurry."

Then she looked down in deep thought, before finishing off her message. "Fix Earth. Help Earth. Hurry! Protect Earth. Nature see you. Thank you."

As much as many people would like to deny the existence of climate change, it's only doing a disservice to the world by thinking that the burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of the environment is not making a negative impact on the world.

As Koko said, she's part of nature, and so are we.

It's humankind that has a powerful impact on this world, and it's up to us to change the world for the better.




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Heartbreaking Tributes Pour in After Famous Gorilla who 'Captivated the World' Dies at 46. 

Koko, The Famous Gorilla Who Learned Sign Language, to Be Laid to Rest at Animal Sanctuary. 

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Koko, The Famous Gorilla Who Learned Sign Language, to Be Laid to Rest at Animal Sanctuary

Koko, the gorilla who mastered sign language and became a pop-culture phenomenon, will be laid to rest Saturday in a ceremony at an animal sanctuary in Northern California where she lived for decades.

The western lowland gorilla died in her sleep Tuesday morning at the age of 46, according to the Gorilla Foundation, which is headed by animal psychologist Francine "Penny" Patterson, who worked with and cared for Koko since the primate was a year old.

Koko was renowned as one of the most intellectual apes in history, beloved by millions of people around the world. Under Patterson's tutelage, she learned more than 1,000 words in sign language and came to understand over 2,000 words spoken to her in English.

"She taught me more than I taught her, for sure," Patterson, 71, told ABC News in a telephone interview Thursday. "She had opportunities to show her brilliance and that’s what we saw. We saw a person, really. She had all the attributes of a person and then some."

To read more on this story, click here: Koko, The Famous Gorilla Who Learned Sign Language, to Be Laid to Rest at Animal Sanctuary



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Heartbreaking Tributes Pour in After Famous Gorilla who 'Captivated the World' Dies at 46

When a celebrity passes away, fans around the world take to social media to share their condolences and their favorite songs, movies, or events that the deceased was a part of. But what happens when a famous animal passes away? On Thursday, June 21, fans around the world are sharing their loyalty and despair over the “gorilla who captivated the world,” Koko.

Koko the ape was one of the most beloved animals in the world who captured the world’s attention years ago over her amazing connection with humans and other animals. The research center that has done a lot of work with the gorilla announced her death.

They said, “The Gorilla Foundation is sad to announce the passing of our beloved Koko.”

Koko was best known around the world for her ability to communicate through American sign language and for her love of kittens. In 1978, she was even featured on “National Geographic.”

To read more on this story, click here: Heartbreaking Tributes Pour in After Famous Gorilla who 'Captivated the World' Dies at 46

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Among the Millions Mourning the Death of Robin Williams on Monday was Koko, a Gorilla who Communicates in Sign Language

Among the millions mourning the death of Robin Williams on Monday was Koko, a gorilla who communicates in sign language. Williams met Koko in 2001 at The Gorilla Foundation in Northern California, where the great ape managed to upstage the great comedic actor.

“Years later (on Aug. 11, 2014), Koko overheard Penny (Dr. Penny Patterson, Koko’s mentor and surrogate mother) talking on the phone about Robin, who had just passed away,” The Gorilla Foundation stated on its website. “She became extremely sad.”

“When you remember Robin Williams, remember that he is not only one of the world’s most beloved entertainers, he is also one of the world’s most powerful ambassadors for great ape conservation,” the organization said.

For his part, Williams called his conversations with Koko a “mind-altering experience.”

The encounter with Koko was just one of many efforts Williams made over the years on behalf of wildlife. In 2011, the actor appeared with other celebrities in a TakePart video to call attention to the annual slaughter of dolphins at the cove in Taiji, Japan, where the few survivors are sold to zoos and water parks.

“My friend doesn’t belong in captivity,” Williams says in the video. “The others are brutally killed.”

“Years later (on Aug. 11, 2014), Koko overheard Penny (Dr. Penny Patterson, Koko’s mentor and surrogate mother) talking on the phone about Robin, who had just passed away,” The Gorilla Foundation stated on its website. “She became extremely sad.”

“When you remember Robin Williams, remember that he is not only one of the world’s most beloved entertainers, he is also one of the world’s most powerful ambassadors for great ape conservation,” the organization said.

For his part, Williams called his conversations with Koko a “mind-altering experience.”

The encounter with Koko was just one of many efforts Williams made over the years on behalf of wildlife. In 2011, the actor appeared with other celebrities in a TakePart video to call attention to the annual slaughter of dolphins at the cove in Taiji, Japan, where the few survivors are sold to zoos and water parks.

“My friend doesn’t belong in captivity,” Williams says in the video. “The others are brutally killed.”

In 1995, the comedian narrated and starred in the PBS documentary In the Wild—Dolphins With Robin Williams. He followed the work of marine biologists and swam with Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Caribbean.

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As with Koko, he attempted to communicate with his newfound dolphin friends.

“What’s up, my main mammal?” he asked a spotted dolphin.

Closer to his Marin County, Calif., home, Williams once made an impromptu appearance at a fund-raiser for the local humane society, jumping onstage to riff with another comedian.

“The Marin Humane Society is very sad to hear about the passing of Robin Williams,” the group said on its Facebook page on Monday. “In 2009, we were honored when he gave a surprise performance at our Woofstock benefit concert.”



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