The End of a Great Communicator

A tribute to the talking chimp who opened minds more than ears.

Photo credit: Hi Pandian, flickr: Original photoIn some realm, Dr. Doolittle is taking a moment of silence.

And though his delightful character may have been make believe, thanks to a certain chimpanzee, talking to animals is not.

However, on October 30th the world lost the 42 year old female chimp, Washoe, who had taken us to the mysterious and magical world of human-animal communication. She was the first animal to speak the human language of American Sign Language.

Washoe was born in Africa in about 1965, and came to the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI), located on the campus of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, in 1880 with Roger and Deborah Fouts. Over her time there she worked with Roger, Deborah, and other researchers to learn about 250 words which she used to answer questions, describe objects and activities, and make requests. Washoe went on to teach her own son and her two other research mates the language. She said "sweet-girl," "hug-friend," and loved shoes, often signing for visitors to show her theirs.

The ability to communicate with this animal opened doors researchers had previously only dreamed of. In Roger Fouts' book Next of Kin, primate researcher, Jane Goodall, noted the importance of the work with Washoe saying, "Roger, through ongoing conversations with Washoe and her extended family, has opened a window into the cognitive workings of a chimpanzee's mind that adds new dimension to our understanding."

The work with Washoe has offered even more than cognitive understanding. It seems to have allowed us to enter a place where we understand, on a very deep level, that we are simply one species in a beautiful and complex world of many and that all of us can experience, feel, and possibly connect with each other.

What does it mean to be able to talk to and hear from another species? I often want to ask my new kitten why she insists on doing certain things on my bed, but can't. I want to ask polar bears and orangutans what they need, but can't. Gee, I can't even communicate well with other humans.

In reading tributes to Washoe, I begin to understand what it means. It means that, thanks to Washoe, there exists a path to a genuine connection to animals -- and to that other realm. A path that can enlighten, teach, inspire, and offer what make believe can: pure delight.

To learn more about Washoe, read the tributes, and support the work of chimp communication, visit www.friendsofwashoe.org.

Amy Gotliffe is Conservation Manager at The Oakland Zoo.

latitude: 37.7502, longitude: -122.148