"This is just the greatest thing that could ever happen. This is the day that I will never forget in my life," says Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, Flea in response to that awesome ape -Koko, the Gorilla who was plucking at his bass guitar...
My sweet and true friend Koko rocks a flea bass like it ain't nuthin - FLEA
Aaaw. Koko, the Gorilla famous for her knowledge of American Sign Language, always wanted a REAL baby, now she has two - in the form of kittens! We've had Koko on before (watch her here responding to a sad movie), but this recent and adorable video of her getting her birthday wish was really a joy to watch and has been viewed over 4M times already...
Koko got her birthday wish this July 4th — not only did one kitten come to visit, but a whole litter. Koko fell in love with one, and the other fell in love with her. Koko has adopted these two kittens into her family, and it has energized her world.
Not only have Koko's maternal and play instincts kicked in, but she is signing more to her caregivers and generating new content everyday that can be used by The Gorilla Foundation to create empathy fro great apes. This can have significant benefits to both endangered free-living great apes and those in captive environments, by encouraging the development of 2-way communication with their caregivers (which Koko has had since she was a baby).
A blast from the past! We love those old virals that are worthy of some re-recognition like this one involving Koko the gorilla....
Koko watches intently a DVD movie on her TV that she has seen several times before. It is called Tea with Mussolini. When it comes to a sad part, where the boy has to say goodbye to all of his relatives and waves goodbye on the train, Koko turns away from the TV. She then proceeds to sign: "Frown, sad, cry, bad, trouble, mother and Koko-love." Her eyes also look very watery. (Gorillas cry too.)
Lesson: There is mounting scientific evidence that great apes can feel empathy for others. This example points to the possibility that gorillas, in particular, may also be able to empathize with fictional human characters portrayed by actors—or at least be moved by them
