Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Koko The Gorilla Adopts 2 Baby Kittens After Being Unable To Have Her Own Kids
User submission
27.3K
156.6K

Koko The Gorilla Adopts 2 Baby Kittens After Being Unable To Have Her Own Kids

ADVERTISEMENT

Koko the gorilla received a special gift for her 44th birthday. The gorilla, famous for her knowledge of American Sign Language, was presented with a box of kittens and allowed to choose two as pets; the remaining cats were adopted into good homes. Koko received her first cat “All Ball” after signing that she wanted a cat, and being unsatisfied with a toy one, back in 1984.

Koko lives in at the Gorilla Foundation in Redwood City, California, with her trainer Francine Patterson. According to Patterson, Koko can understand 2,000 English words and communicates with her trainers using over 1,000 “Gorilla Sign Language” signs. When Koko learned that All Ball had died, she cried, and signed “Sleep cat.” You can find out more about this story on Amazon.

More info: koko.org | Facebook | Amazon

RELATED:

    Koko the gorilla received a special gift for her 44th birthday

    The gorilla, famous for knowing sign language, was given a box of kittens and allowed to choose two as pets

    Koko signs the word “cat.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Koko signs the word “baby.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Koko signs: “Put on head.”

    She always wanted a baby…

    Now she has two kitten to love her!

    ADVERTISEMENT

    157Kviews

    Share on Facebook
    Dainius

    Dainius

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Read less »
    Dainius

    Dainius

    Author, Community member

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    jagbag
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Koko you have made my morning happy. Someone please sign her that message :)

    JoAnneKlein
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I could think of quite a few humans who could take lessons from Koko... they are bereft of "human kindness" but perhaps they could learn from "Gorilla kindness". Wishing Koko lots of love and fun from her new little family.

    KwihuiHalliday
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It does my heart good. Obvious that they are sentient. The gorillas I mean. Who is really smarter? Koko has learned English, we didn't learn Gorilla. So. I guess in many ways, the gorillas are smarter than humans. I'd love to experience Koko interaction. But she's not a show piec, is she? It's great that Koko is a mom. Bet she is a great mom to her two kitten children. Good luck to her.

    MaxineFultz
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Koko you are the best, I hope you and your babies have a great life together !

    DonnaLibbey
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am so glad that Koko has two lovely kittens to share life with her. Though she is amazing, i can't help but believe she is lonely for her own group and the jungle whether she's ever lived there or not.

    SusanMeade
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love Koko and have been following her for decades, but I'd really like to see this magnificent animal out in the open among other gorillas instead of in a cage. What ever happened to the sanctuary? Wondering why most of the info provided about her is from decades ago. What is she saying these days besides wanting a kitten, and why has it taken her so long to get kittens again?

    LindaBigbee
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a gentle, sweet soul, Koko is. So glad she has some kittens to love.

    DaleMoar
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good for her!! And I'm sure the kittens will love it too!!

    Baked_Potato
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1. Koko is a gorilla, not a monkey, though many people make this common misconception. 2. She loves cats, ever since she had All-Ball.

    Load More Replies...
    I'dRatherNotTellYou
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She had a cat once named All-Ball, and she was so sad when she died. I'm really happy for Koko and hope to hear more about her two new cats!

    I'dRatherNotTellYou
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kittka9 surely you have never heard of Koko before. She is a very gentle and kind animal who would never do such a thing.

    MikiNyckel
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very interesting to see an animal desiring and having a pet. Or maybe she looks at it like a baby? That is quite something. Of course, it makes it hard to see a gorilla as an animal and not so much more.

    JayK
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Guys let's make some extra cash online, its very easy http://extracashclix.weebly.com/

    Kittka9
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Who would give a kitten to gorilla?? For birthday?! Did they think "Oh, let's see if the gorrila will tear the cat apart and eat it or the kitten will actualy live through this?" This is utter idiocy...

    jagbag
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Koko you have made my morning happy. Someone please sign her that message :)

    JoAnneKlein
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I could think of quite a few humans who could take lessons from Koko... they are bereft of "human kindness" but perhaps they could learn from "Gorilla kindness". Wishing Koko lots of love and fun from her new little family.

    KwihuiHalliday
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It does my heart good. Obvious that they are sentient. The gorillas I mean. Who is really smarter? Koko has learned English, we didn't learn Gorilla. So. I guess in many ways, the gorillas are smarter than humans. I'd love to experience Koko interaction. But she's not a show piec, is she? It's great that Koko is a mom. Bet she is a great mom to her two kitten children. Good luck to her.

    MaxineFultz
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Koko you are the best, I hope you and your babies have a great life together !

    DonnaLibbey
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am so glad that Koko has two lovely kittens to share life with her. Though she is amazing, i can't help but believe she is lonely for her own group and the jungle whether she's ever lived there or not.

    SusanMeade
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love Koko and have been following her for decades, but I'd really like to see this magnificent animal out in the open among other gorillas instead of in a cage. What ever happened to the sanctuary? Wondering why most of the info provided about her is from decades ago. What is she saying these days besides wanting a kitten, and why has it taken her so long to get kittens again?

    LindaBigbee
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a gentle, sweet soul, Koko is. So glad she has some kittens to love.

    DaleMoar
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good for her!! And I'm sure the kittens will love it too!!

    Baked_Potato
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1. Koko is a gorilla, not a monkey, though many people make this common misconception. 2. She loves cats, ever since she had All-Ball.

    Load More Replies...
    I'dRatherNotTellYou
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She had a cat once named All-Ball, and she was so sad when she died. I'm really happy for Koko and hope to hear more about her two new cats!

    I'dRatherNotTellYou
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kittka9 surely you have never heard of Koko before. She is a very gentle and kind animal who would never do such a thing.

    MikiNyckel
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very interesting to see an animal desiring and having a pet. Or maybe she looks at it like a baby? That is quite something. Of course, it makes it hard to see a gorilla as an animal and not so much more.

    JayK
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Guys let's make some extra cash online, its very easy http://extracashclix.weebly.com/

    Kittka9
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Who would give a kitten to gorilla?? For birthday?! Did they think "Oh, let's see if the gorrila will tear the cat apart and eat it or the kitten will actualy live through this?" This is utter idiocy...

    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda