The beloved gorilla Koko has passed away. She was famous for mastering sign language and was friends with Robin Williams and Leonardo DiCaprio. ❤️ #9Today | TODAY

Koko the gorilla was known for her incredible communication skills. She could understand more than 2,000 spoken words and used over 1,000 signs in sign language. One of the most touching moments in her life was meeting the late Robin Williams. They laughed, played, and even hugged. A genuine connection formed between them. After learning of Robin Williams’ passing, Koko signed “CRY” and “LIP,” showing visible signs of grief. She went into mourning once more. Robin had a rare gift, the ability to

Koko the gorilla, whose remarkable sign-language ability and motherly attachment to pet cats helped change the world’s views about the intelligence of animals and their capacity for empathy, has died at 46. Koko was taught sign language from an early age as a scientific test subject and eventually learned more than 1,000 words, a vocabulary similar to that of a human toddler. She became a celebrity who played with the likes of William Shatner, Sting, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robin Williams and Mr. Rog