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

Koko the gorilla, who is said to have been able to communicate by using more than 1,000 hand signs, has died in California at the age of 46. Here she is on BBC News in 1985, with her kitten friend. | BBC Archive