Koko, a gorilla said to have mastered American Sign Language, died in the US state of California at the age of 46 on June 19, 2018. Born at the San Francisco Zoo in 1971, Koko was said to have an IQ of between 75 and 95. The average IQ for humans is 100. | CGTN

In 1998, Koko met Mr. Rogers, her favorite celebrity. She signed her love for him in a moment of pure kindness and connection. | Koko & The Gorilla Foundation

We're very saddened to hear of the recent passing of Koko & The Gorilla Foundation. We're reflecting on this sweet moment she shared with Mister Rogers when he visited Koko and her friend Penny. #MisterRogers50 | Fred Rogers Productions

Koko's Kitten Playdate... In this archival footage, Koko meets and plays with one of her many pet kittens. These clips show Koko as she first introduces herself to the cat, cuddles with him, and carries him around to show him features of her room such as her full-length mirror. Her ability to gently and purposefully share experiences with her kittens demonstrates her empathy and capacity to form meaningful friendships with any species. | Koko & The Gorilla Foundation

KOKO & PENNY READ "KOKO'S KITTEN" — PART 1: THE BOOK In this video from KokoArc, it’s 1988 and Koko is very eager to look at the book “Koko’s Kitten." This book was first released in 1985 by Scholastic. Koko looks at some of the photos with Penny and signs about them. She then takes the book to higher ground to examine it on her own — an expression of her autonomy. She also demonstrates her creativity and enthusiasm by using some signs simultaneously — like “Gorilla-Animal” and “Book-Hurry." Kok