Koko the Gorilla has a a heartbreaking message about climate change
<p>You may be asking ‘who is Koko the gorilla and why are her views important?’. </p>
<p>Before Koko, it was believed that primates couldn’t communicate in ways that humans could comprehend. The western lowland gorilla may not actually be able to speak words as such, but she can flawlessly communicate using a modified form of American sign language. Her trainer, Francine "Penny" Patterson, reports that Koko is able to understand more than 1,000 signs of what Patterson calls "Gorilla Sign Language" and her language use is akin to that of a human child. </p>
<p>It also turns out Koko doesn’t just know how to talk to humans, she has a lot of relevant input. <em>Noe Conservation</em> posted a video of Koko's emotional reaction to hearing about climate change, and it has stirred up a lot of controversy. The gorilla signs about her love for the Earth and for mankind, but scolds the human race for being "stupid" by contributing to the decay of the atmosphere. </p>
<p>Many people across the world are now asking expressing the same sentiment. When a gorilla tells you that you are being stupid, is it perhaps time to listen?</p>
<p>As hard as it may be to believe that a gorilla could understand a concept as abstract as complex as ‘Earth’, the debate isn’t about the extent of Koko’s cognitive abilities. The bigger picture is that there are other animals on this planet, and one of them is trying to tell us something.</p>
<p><strong>Related links:</strong></p>
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