Sign-language chimp {Washoe} dies (AP/CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

No, no ... it's not the one you hope for.

SPOKANE, Washington (AP) -- Washoe, a female chimpanzee said to be the first non-human to acquire human language, has died of natural causes at the research institute where she was kept.

Washoe, who first learned a bit of American Sign Language in a research project in Nevada, had been living on Central Washington University's Ellensburg campus since 1980. Her keepers said she had a vocabulary of about 250 words, although critics contended Washoe and some other primates learned to imitate sign language, but did not develop true language skills.

She died Tuesday night, according to Roger and Deborah Fouts, co-founders of The Chimpanzee and Human Communications Institute on the campus. She was born in Africa about 1965.

She was taken to the veterinary hospital at Washington State University on Wednesday for a necropsy. Her memorial will be November 12.

"Washoe was an emissary, bringing us a message of respect for nature," Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold, assistant director of the nonprofit institute, said Wednesday.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/31/signing.chimp.dies.ap/index.html

RIP, Washoe. You gave chimps a *good* name.

[SoCalDem]

1. Aaaw.. that's so sad.. She was such a sweetie..

I remember seeing a show not too long ago where an old keeper she had had years ago, visisted her and they signed a "conversation: to each other..:cry:..She did have a nice long life though :)

[mike_c]

2. sleep well, Washoe....

Words fail me.

:cry:

[Judi Lynn]

3. Wonderful character, that Washoe. The article says she taught 3 others to use sign language.

I'd never heard this.

She actually taught a new language to them.

So sad to know she's gone. A gentle, loving, intelligent, wonderful creature...

[uppityperson]

4. RIP Washoe

[acmavm]

5. That chimp was an amazing creature. And a hell of a lot smarter

than 'our' Chimp(y).