News RIP Washoe
posted by on November 1 at 9:41 AM
Washington state’s most famous chimpanzee resident is dead. Originally brought to US by the Air Force for use in space trials, Washoe became the subject of one of the most successful non-human primate language-acquisition experiments, with a reliable vocabulary of over 100 ASL words.
She was also observed demonstrating signs to her son Loulis, who picked up words without any direct human instruction. You can still visit Loulis and other chimps at Central Washington University’s regular “Chimposiums”.
An episode on "Nova" in the '70s was my introduction to Washoe. Great old gal. She will be missed.
First Goulet, now this. These are dark times.
Let's hope J.P. Patches isn't the third to go.
Fluent now in the language of grief.
I wonder if Washoe ever signed: "Please set me free."
My favorite was when she signed "Bring the soldiers home!"
The Seattle Times is reporting her last words as: Repeal estate tax.
actual Washoe quote:
"fine animal, chimpanzee."
...& I have this horrible foreboding of seeing a "live action" movie documentary of bushmeat hunters, moving in to shoot a chimp that's signing "I am Friend", over & over again... ^..^
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