Research suggests that gorillas are the closest living relatives of humans after chimpanzees. The genetic makeup of a gorilla is 98% similar to that of humans, so clearly some of their characteristics are the same as well. They are no doubt some of the smartest creatures on this planet and the following video shows us how they actually have sentiments akin to humans.
Koko the gorilla is renowned all over for having learned a large number of hand signs from a modified version of American Sign Language. Sometime before this video was shot, she was longing eagerly to be a mother. That’s when she adopted a pet kitten to raise as her own.
But one day, the poor cat was in an accident when she was walking along the road by the enclosure and got hit by a car. Wait till you see how Koko reacts to the news…
Koko’s caretaker has to tell her the news, and she sits down with her as if she was a human. In sign language, she tells Koko her cat passed away. Koko signs the words “bad” and “sad,” as well as “frown” and “cry.” I was crying just watching her react to the news. Penny, the caretaker, stayed with her to comfort her.
Later, when Koko was alone, she privately expressed her grief and cried. She could be heard through the camp crying for All Ball, her kitten. It was the saddest thing I have ever seen. Koko has since adopted two other kittens as her babies, and that video is also on the internet.
Update on Koko and her Kittens
