Koko The Gorilla

Koko drawing (http://koko.org/kidsclub/pictures/koko.html)

Koko the gorilla, an adapted lowland gorilla, is deserving of respect. There are many foundations after Koko such as Project Koko and Koko.com. Koko’s I.Q. was tested between 70 and 95 on the human scale, when 100 is the normal human I.Q. which is amazing for a gorilla. Koko is so smart that she understands about 2000 human words in spoken language, and over 1000 in sign language. So a gorilla mastered a language most humans do not even know. Koko possesses Heroic Qualities such as adaptability, hope, and courage.

Koko is a 37 year old gorilla who started learning sign language when she was just a baby. Koko’s main desire is to have babies so she can teach her babies sign language. Also Koko’s species is critically endangered. She is also famous for her love of kittens and how much she cares for them as if they are her own children. Koko also paints with fellow gorilla Michael who is as smart as Koko. She possesses all of the emotions we have.

Koko teaches people that gorillas aren’t that different from people. Koko lives in the Gorilla Foundation located in Woodside, California. Her real name is Hanabi-Ko which translates to “Fireworks Child”. Koko weighs about 280 pounds and is about 5’3/4” feet tall. Koko is even the inspiration to Amy the talking Gorilla in the book Congo by Michael Crichton. Also she takes care of her kittens so well that when she becomes a mom for little gorillas she will be amazing.

In the book The Hero’s Trail by T.A. Barron there are four types of heroes they are “Hero on the Spot”, “Survivor Hero”, “Hero Within”, and “hero to others near and far.” Koko is definitely a Survivor Hero because she has survived going through the hardship of being an endangered species. She is so adapted that she could probably survive a week in kindergarten with humans.

In conclusion, Koko the gorilla is definitely deserving of great respect. She is one of, if not the, smartest gorillas in the world. She mastered sign language which most humans don’t even know. She is also just below a normal human I.Q. We really need to help Koko’s species or they might go extinct. Helping the gorillas would make you a hero too.

Sources: http://www.koko.org/indx.php, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koko (gorilla)