您现在的位置是：娛樂 >>正文

【】

娛樂38人已围观

简介Koko, the beloved gorilla best known for mastering sign language, died in her sleep at age 46 on Wed ...

Koko, the beloved gorilla best known for mastering sign language, died in her sleep at age 46 on Wednesday.

The Gorilla Foundation announced Koko's death via social media on Thursday, saying she "touched the lives of millions as an ambassador for all gorillas and an icon for interspecies communication and empathy."

SEE ALSO:Animals are becoming nocturnal to avoid humans, and that could mean trouble

Tweet may have been deleted

Koko, whose full name was Hanabi-ko (meaning "Fireworks Child" in Japanese,) was born on July 4, 1971. Over the years the western lowland gorilla learned more than 1,000 different signs, developed a love of cats, worked alongside many humans including sign language instructor Dr. Francine "Penny" Patterson, and inspired several documentaries and the popular children's book, Koko's Kitten.

Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletterBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Thanks for signing up!

Her willingness to interact with people and her eagerness to learn allowed the world to observe a great deal about her species, and throughout the course of her life Koko made many celebrity friends, including Mister Rogers and Robin Williams.

After news of Koko's death reached social media, fans showed an outpouring of love for the gorilla, thanking her for all her contributions.