Koko shows motherhood empathy

One of Koko's caregivers has just had a baby, and has been keeping the baby close to her in a frontal papoose. Koko emulates her caregiver by holding one of her baby dolls close to her chest too. Koko would love to be a gorilla mom, and takes every opportunity to practice, as you never know when the time will come.

Lesson: Koko (and other gorillas) can be just as nurturing to other species as they are to their own. Can we?

Date Added: Jun 25, 2008
Videographer: Dr. Ron Cohn

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Koko
• GSL
• Gorilla
• Sign
• Language
• Motherhood
• Empathy
• Baby
• Doll

[cujo55544]

An interesting idea: Since Koko seems reluctant to breed on her own, why not allow her to adopt? I'm sure there must be plenty of orphaned baby gorillas in the world in dire need of a mother.

[Kellox17]

@daniyyelv Koko is a very smart ape isn't she? could that also influence on her having higher standards for a male mate?

[Caublasian1]

@gl3110 couse you got skeed on

[gl3110]

why is my face all wet?

[geico300]

@Kellox17 LOL!!! NICE COmeback!!!!!!!!! XD

[SoFreakingLegit]

I hope Koko gets a chance to be a mother soon. c:

[neonnights98]

Why don't you adopt a baby gorilla for her? Really it's a bit sad seeing her holding a plastic baby, whether she thinks it's real or not. I think it would be nice for her to adopt an orphan gorilla and not a kitten for a change, cause the cats won't take a shine to her as much as another gorilla would. Not being offensive, just saying.

[doctorsensual77]

Watching this video, at least you know, when the idiocy of man leads us to oblivion, the world we'll leave behind will be in good hands.

Somehow I'm just sure of it...

[gryffindorgirl17]

As much as Iove this gorilla...she scares me. 1) Shows beyond any doubt apes are far more intelligent than people want to give them credit 2) When they take over I'd be compelled to join their side because their just so darn lovable, even if they go all Planet of the Apes on us.

[kanenav]

tarzan O_o??



[cujo55544]

@squishmich From what I've heard about Koko over the years though, she has expressed a desire for a baby of her own. The problem, as I understand it, is that we've been expecting Koko to do it like a human would, instead of a gorilla. First there was Michael, and Koko ended up seeing him as a 'brother', and now with Ndume it's almost right, but in the wild there'd be a silverback male and a group of breeding females and their young. I'm not a gorilla expert though, just a Koko fan.

[squishmich]

@cujo55544

If she is reluctant to breed than it is possible that the natural urge for motherhood is absent, which does happen for many other species. From watching Koko's behaviour patterns over the course of 30 years, she understands the word 'baby' but probably not fully understanding the concept. She is wild however I think there would be a good chance of her abadoning any orphaned gorilla brought into her care.