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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Gorilla signs that she has a toothache |
| 2004-08-09 |
| Way OT, but I think it is just amazing that there is an actual animal out there we can communicate coherently and consistently with like this! A gorilla has used sign language to tell her handlers that she had toothache — and has had the tooth extracted. Koko used the American Sign Language gesture for pain and pointed to her mouth, prompting treatment involving 12 specialists, including three dentists. Her handlers said that Koko, a 300-plus-pound ape who has mastered more than 1,000 signs, began telling her handlers at the Gorilla Foundation in Woodside, California, she was in pain. They constructed a pain chart, offering Koko a scale from one to 10. When Koko started pointing to nine or 10 too often, a dental appointment was made. Twelve specialists — including a Stanford cardiologist, three anaesthetists and three dentists — volunteered to help. The team went to Koko yesterday, taking portable X-ray and ultra-sound machines. They set up shop at her "apartment," which looks like a remodelled box car. After four hours of tests — including a colonoscopy, dental work, X-rays, and ultra-sounds — doctors extracted the tooth, gave her a thorough check-up and pronounced her fit. Koko and Ndume, her partner of 11 years (he doesn't "speak"), have been trying unsuccessfully to have a baby, and the doctors thought the checkup could let them know whether she had any biological problems preventing it. She does not. Her teacher, Francine Patterson, was at her side when the anaesthetist prepared to put her under in the morning, and apparently Koko asked to meet her specialists. They crowded around her, and Koko, who plays favourites, asked one woman wearing red to come closer. The woman handed her a business card, which Koko promptly ate. Otherwise, Koko was calm, Liang said. |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #13 Q: What dentist does a 300-pound gorilla use? A: Whichever one they grab first. If you think Koko is amazing, check out Alex the African Grey Parrot. This avian Einstein is phenomenal. Greys have long been famed for vocabularies approaching 1,000 words, in some cases. Alex takes it well beyond mimicing and reiterating. An old neighbor of mine was an authority on psitticines and published books about raising parrots and met Alex once. Dr. Pepperberg currently works with 4 African Grey Parrots. Alex, the oldest, can count, identify objects, shapes, colors and materials, knows the concepts of same and different, and bosses around lab assistants in order to modify his environment! |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-08-09 21:00 |
| #12 Q: What dentist does a 300-pound gorilla use? |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-08-09 18:06 |
| #11 When you can comunicate effectively with a socialist, wake me up. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-08-09 4:09:50 PM |
| #10 lol! |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-08-09 4:07:09 PM |
| #9 EXCUSE ME???!! They gave a colonoscopy to a gorilla?? "Just relax, Koko, you may feel some discomfort?? What's sign language for "No, YOU will feel some discomfort!"? |
| Posted by: Mercutio 2004-08-09 4:04:22 PM |
| #8 Re #1: General Ursuss at your command! Buglar, sound the advance! Forward to the Forbidden Zone! |
| Posted by: borgboy 2004-08-09 3:22:32 PM |
| #7 good link gk. :) |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-08-09 1:25:07 PM |
| #6 After the extraction Koko pointed at a photo of John Edwards and made the sign for me + you and you get 40%. Then she was heard to say in a clear voice "It's my leg!" |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-08-09 1:01:51 PM |
| #5 Kitty is doing well--take a look at GK's link. There are some pix of Koko and her kitten at her b-day party. |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-08-09 12:51:45 PM |
| #4 poor koko. ima hope she is feel beter. ima wonder what is ever happen her kitty kat. |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-08-09 12:48:37 PM |
| #3 I remember writing something about Penny Patterson and Koko for one of my college courses over 25 years ago. So how old is Koko and how long has this study, relationship, been going on? I looked it up http://www.koko.org/friends/meet_koko.html Over 32 years. Not bad for a four month project. Muck around on the URL. Lot's of interesting stuff there. BTW, Koko had a birthday on July 4, so she's 33 now. |
| Posted by: GK 2004-08-09 12:21:05 PM |
| #2 Great story, Dar! Lol! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-08-09 11:49:39 AM |
| #1 Cute story! Good going to the Doctors that gave their time. I love the part where she ate the business card of one of the Doctors. I noticed the male partner doesn't speak (at least not in public). I want to go on record here that this is the begining of the 'Planet of the Apes!' |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2004-08-09 10:55:36 AM |
