Gorilla Koko who mastered sign language dies
New York, June 22 : Koko the gorilla, who appeared on National Geographic magazine cover, could chat, tease and even argue with scientists using more than 1,000 hand signs, has died in California at the age of 46.
Koko -- the primary ambassador for her endangered species, who redrew the lines of animal-human communication -- passed away on Tuesday in her sleep, a Gorilla Foundation press release said.
At birth, she was named Hanabi-ko -- Japanese for "fireworks child", because she was born at the San Francisco Zoo on July 4 in 1971. She was a western lowland gorilla.
"Her impact has been profound and what she has taught us about the emotional capacity of gorillas and their cognitive abilities will continue to shape the world," the Gorilla Foundation said.
Throughout her life, Koko's abilities made headlines. After she began communicating with humans through American Sign Language, she was featured by National Geographic - and she took her own picture (in a mirror) for the magazine's cover.
That cover came out in 1978, seven years after Koko was chosen as an infant to work on a language research project with the psychologist Francine "Penny" Patterson.
In 1985, the magazine profiled the affectionate relationship between the gorilla and her kitten: Koko and All Ball.
Koko, who also apparently understood some spoken English. Instructors taught her a version of American Sign Language and say she used it to convey thoughts and feelings, the BBC reported.
She adopted and named pets, including her kitten, All Ball.
Some scientists have cast doubt on the extent of the gorilla's communicative skills. However, she was the subject of many documentaries.
When her tailless tabby kitten All Ball escaped and was killed by a car in 1984, Dr Patterson wrote that she had displayed grief.
Koko lived most of her life at the Gorilla Foundation in California. She was filmed meeting the late actor Robin Williams in 2001.
Koko amazed scientists in 2012, when she showed she could learn to play the recorder. The feat revealed mental acuity but also, crucially, that primates can learn to intricately control their breathing - something that had been assumed to be beyond their abilities.
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Modi urges industry to ramp up investment, prioritise research to scale up manufacturing
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged industry leaders to step up investments, embrace emerging technologies and prioritise research to help India Inc fully leverage the vast opportunities offered by free trade agreements with various nations.
"The days of cutting corners in research are over. We must now make substantial investments in research and development and ensure that our products meet global quality standards. Now we have got opportunities to move forward, so we should have only one mantra - Quality, Quality, Quality," he said while addressing a second webinar on Budget 2026-27.
Stressing that India has entered into free trade agreements with numerous countries, he said, these agreements have opened up a wide range of opportunities for the country.
"In such a situation, he said, "our responsibility is that we should never compromise on quality."
Today, the world is seeking reliable and resilient manufacturing partners, he said, adding that India has a strong opportunity to fulfil this role.
"Our direction is clear. Our resolve is clear. Build more, produce more, connect more, and now the need is to export more," he said.
Pointing out that a significant transformation is currently underway in the global economy, he said that markets are no longer focused solely on cost; sustainability has become an equally important consideration.
"The Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Mission is a key initiative driving this shift. Incorporating sustainability into core business strategies is now essential. Industries that invest early in clean technologies will gain better access to emerging markets in the years ahead," he said.
Highlighting the importance of infrastructure and logistics, he said, they serve as fundamental pillars of our growth strategy.
This year's budget proposes a record level of capital expenditure to support these priorities, he said.
As India emerges as a beacon of hope for the world thanks to its robust economy, and as global supply chains undergo transformation, the prime minister said, rapid economic development has become the cornerstone for realising the vision of Viksit Bharat.
