Resting In Peace
Patterson said in a recent interview Koko looked “peaceful” after she died. Patterson was of course at her side when she died. In a recent interview with ABC news, Patterson said, “We’re still trying to understand what the cause was.” She continued, “Many gorillas have a heart condition, cardiomyopathy, and she had it, but it was apparently a mild case and was being treated for that. That’s one possibility.”
Koko’s Legacy Will Live On
The Gorilla Foundation issued a statement that it “will continue to honor Koko’s legacy and advance our mission” by studying sign language in great apes and pursuing conservation projects in Africa and around the world. Despite her death, Koko’s legacy and impact on science and philosophy will live on forever.