A Conversation for Talking with Koko - An Inter-species Communication
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derejfy Started conversation Feb 22, 2007
As well as the info in this fine article, there are two well known stories that are not covered.
"Cat did it" -- What Koko reportedly signed after a (gorilla-scale) rage resulted in the substantial stainless-steel sink being torn from the wall of her (0.5" polycarbonate walled) room. The research question: was it a joke, or a hopeless attempt to blame her kitten?
The only web support I can see for this story on a quick search is in the Guardian's review of "The Lying Ape" at http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1783734,00.html and the Wikipedia entry for 'Lie' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie.
Maybe Dr Paterson's 1987 book is the source?
Sexual harassment -- a depressing human side to the Koko story is reported in the coverage of lawsuits where her female keepers have alleged that they were forced to get their nipples out for the lass^H^H^H^Hgorilla
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4300803.stm
but the lawsuits were resolved as noted in Wikipedia's reference
http://www.courttv.com/people/2005/1125/koko_ctv.html
Koko is referenced on various other h2g2 pages of which the following might benefit from linking:
A582275 Animal Intelligence
A793622 Culture
A702019 Shame
A769115 Culture
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Fizzymouse- no place like home Posted Feb 22, 2007
Thank you for your interest in my favourite entry - it certainly is a massive subject. I was aware of her lies and the sexual harassment cases, the lie I expect I should have written in, the harassment I decided against and it was skirted around in the PR thread.
With the additional links I can post them to Editorial Feedback, unfortunately I am experiencing some computer difficulties at the moment, so I may not get around to it until the weekend. Thanks again for your interest and feedback
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