Koko: The Gorilla Who Spoke With Her Hands

Koko: The Gorilla who loved humans

On July 4, 1971, a baby gorilla was born at the San Francisco Zoo. Named Koko, meaning “fireworks child” in Japanese, she would grow into one of the most extraordinary ambassadors between humans and animals the world has ever known. Under the care of Dr. Francine “Penny” Patterson, Koko learned more than 1,000 signs of American Sign Language and understood around 2,000 spoken English words. Through her hands, she expressed humor, grief, and tenderness - famously adopting kittens and signing “my baby” which was captured in National Geographic’s “Koko’s kitten”, revealing her maternal devotion. 
She often signed “love” to her human companions, hugged visitors, and mourned when her pets passed away. Through these gestures, Koko shattered stereotypes of gorillas as aggressive, instead showing them as beings capable of compassion and friendship. 
Yet unlike wild gorillas, Koko was raised entirely in captivity, bonded deeply with humans, and relied on medical care and structured environments. Releasing her into the wild was never possible; she lacked the survival skills to forage, defend herself, or integrate into a troop.
Koko did more than break stereotypes - she showed us that when humans offer love and compassion to any living being, whether it is great or small, extraordinary wonders unfold. Her story reminds us that humanity’s true role is to protect the Earth, not through domination or destruction, but through care, respect, and love. 
When she passed away in 2018 at the age of 46, she left behind more than scientific data - she left a message of hope. Koko taught humanity that the voiceless can speak volumes when given the chance, and that love knows no species.