111K views · 6K reactions | Koko showed that she was thinking in signs, and using them to label and reflect upon her world #kokothegorilla #Koko | Koko & The Gorilla Foundation | Facebook

Koko learned over 1000 signs in ASL, but there remained things (like artichokes) for which she didn't know the sign and thus has to create one. In this video, Koko smells something enticing and signs "Apple-Nut-Ball" to Penny. Penny correctly guesses that she is requesting the cooked artichoke nearby. This moment demonstrates Koko’s ability to invent new signs for objects, revealing her intelligence and linguistic creativity. Koko created a number of these compound sign combinations, like "Finge

Here we see how gorillas learn with their whole bodies. Koko explores the sand at Stanford during her early development. | Koko & The Gorilla Foundation

Koko reminds us that curiosity is not uniquely human. Gorillas explore, ask questions, and persist in understanding the world around them, driven by the same thoughtful curiosity that connects us all. | Koko & The Gorilla Foundation