General Discussion

Donald Ian Rankin

(13,598 posts)

31. I'm afraid I'm very sceptical about Koko's abilities.

Thu Oct 15, 2015, 04:56 PM

Oct 2015

If you watch videos of her with Dr Penny Patterson and her other keepers, it becomes apparent that the interpretations they're putting on her actions are very, very subjective, and she's probably not nearly as smart as they make her out to be.

By contrast, videos on YouTube of Sue Savage-Rumbaugh with bonobos (Kanzi, Panbanisha, Teco et al) are truly breathtaking, partly because, unlike Dr Patterson, they use genuinely rigorous methods, and go to considerable lengths to disprove explanations other than their apes understanding a great deal of language and being extremely intelligent.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

74 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

KoKo the Gorilla just turned 44. Guess what she got for her birthday? [View all] CatWoman Oct 2015 OP

So much cute ryan_cats Oct 2015 #1

She has had kitties before. Arugula Latte Oct 2015 #9

All Ball was one of them. spooky3 Oct 2015 #32

this is a beautiful testament restorefreedom Oct 2015 #2

+1! Enthusiast Oct 2015 #33

Koko the Gorilla crying following death of her Friend Robin Williams Brother Buzz Oct 2015 #3

Congrats to me! Bigmack Oct 2015 #4

me too! I wonder what happens to all the old cats? ha ha hollysmom Oct 2015 #13

Me, Three! Leith Oct 2015 #40

:o) Solly Mack Oct 2015 #5

Damn. I thought it was going to be a Snuggie underpants Oct 2015 #6

I was wrong. I guessed one kitten ... not two! Arugula Latte Oct 2015 #7

George Constanza has a birthday present as well! Initech Oct 2015 #8

lol...he was supposed to be t bone! nt restorefreedom Oct 2015 #39

Double zeroes? Initech Oct 2015 #47

:). nt restorefreedom Oct 2015 #49

Oh yeah, well the Jerk Store called and they're all out of you! nt Codeine Oct 2015 #43

Classic. narnian60 Oct 2015 #50

The friendship between small cats and primates has got to be an ancient one Warpy Oct 2015 #10

Thanks for posting Omaha Steve Oct 2015 #11

So Glad Marty McGraw Oct 2015 #12

Did you see the heart-breaking video when her first kitten died... joeybee12 Oct 2015 #14

no, and I don't want to CatWoman Oct 2015 #18

I;ll just say the cat grew up... joeybee12 Oct 2015 #19

Awwww wonderful! Look had a kitten she named AllBall BlancheSplanchnik Oct 2015 #15

A pet Republican would be more obedient mr goodbeer Oct 2015 #16

SQUEE! Aerows Oct 2015 #17

It's wonderful Worried senior Oct 2015 #20

Oh. Thought it would be a Bernie doll. DrBulldog Oct 2015 #21

There's one in every crowd. catbyte Oct 2015 #52

Gorillas are primarily vegetarian, and insects & caterpillars are about all the "meat" they eat. Arugula Latte Oct 2015 #56

I knew it! Happyhippychick Oct 2015 #22

I. Didn't. Even. Have. To. Open. This. OP. To. Know. What. It. Would. Say. Octafish Oct 2015 #23

aw shucks, Oct CatWoman Oct 2015 #25

Hermana y Amiga! Octafish Oct 2015 #27

+1 a whole bunch! Enthusiast Oct 2015 #34

My mom loved Kliban cats OriginalGeek Oct 2015 #42

The mouse pad I'm using as we "speak" has this on it... mak3cats Oct 2015 #70

lol! OriginalGeek Oct 2015 #74

They play Grand Theft Auto V too Politicalboi Oct 2015 #55

That chimp's alright. Gidney N Cloyd Oct 2015 #24

love me a seinfeld ref! nt restorefreedom Oct 2015 #38

I just died by cute-icide! tblue Oct 2015 #26

I got a thrilla from a gorilla! lovemydog Oct 2015 #58

I was going to guess "semi-automatic handgun". maxsolomon Oct 2015 #28

god damn you CatWoman Oct 2015 #46

I've been a Koko fan since my kids were little (they're in their 40's now) Ineeda Oct 2015 #29

How lovely! LeftishBrit Oct 2015 #30

I'm afraid I'm very sceptical about Koko's abilities. Donald Ian Rankin Oct 2015 #31

Wikipedia has a quick section wheniwasincongress Oct 2015 #37

They're extraordinary. Donald Ian Rankin Oct 2015 #44

Happy Birthday KOKO............................ turbinetree Oct 2015 #35

Some of us are so busy looking for intelligent life beyond earth... hunter Oct 2015 #36

She so gentle with the kittens. B Calm Oct 2015 #41

I remember seeing Koko as a baby at the San Francisco zoo red dog 1 Oct 2015 #45

Reading glasses? nt HomerRamone Oct 2015 #48

Oh no, don't eat them!!! NightWatcher Oct 2015 #51

Most gorillas are herbivores Generic Other Oct 2015 #53

awww. Gorilla kitten love Liberal_in_LA Oct 2015 #54

Has anyone told Koko about SalmonChantedEvening's sunday LOLCats? Behind the Aegis Oct 2015 #57

If you send him a pm... awoke_in_2003 Oct 2015 #59

will she rip the new sink out and blame it on the new cat, too? MisterP Oct 2015 #60

That is very cute Gothmog Oct 2015 #61

I love this. Happy birthday, Koko. CharlotteVale Oct 2015 #62

I was hoping it's be a kitten. <3 to Koko. uppityperson Oct 2015 #63

All I could think when I saw the video was KoKo's a CAT LADY! beam me up scottie Oct 2015 #64

Knew it was going to be a cat! I still have the poster of KoKo and her first kitten eridani Oct 2015 #65

I didn't even read the article or look at the photo, just knew it was a kitteh! raven mad Oct 2015 #66

So adorable. nt Live and Learn Oct 2015 #67

I was going to guess that Koko was given a hooker and a bottle of wine, bvar22 Oct 2015 #68

i melting allan01 Oct 2015 #69

Oh. Em. Geeeee. :) SalmonChantedEvening Oct 2015 #71

Koko has always loved kittens! DirkGently Oct 2015 #72

I donate every year to KOKO and already had the heads up on this, but glad to see it Gloria Oct 2015 #73