Koko, the gorilla who mastered sign language, has died.

The Gorilla Foundation says the 46-year-old western lowland gorilla died in her sleep at the foundationB次元官网网址檚 preserve in CaliforniaB次元官网网址檚 Santa Cruz mountains on Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/AnimalPlanet/status/1009833342798389248

Koko was born at the San Francisco Zoo, and Dr. Francine Patterson began teaching the gorilla sign language that became part of a Stanford University project in 1974.

The foundation says KokoB次元官网网址檚 capacity for language and empathy opened the minds and hearts of millions.

Koko appeared in many documentaries and twice in National Geographic. The gorillaB次元官网网址檚 1978 cover featured a photo that the animal had taken of herself in a mirror.

The foundation says it will honour KokoB次元官网网址檚 legacy with a sign language application featuring Koko for the benefit of gorillas and children, as well as other projects.

The Associated Press

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