>> a gorilla named Coco (?) who had been taught sufficient language
>
> Koko. Frances Patterson has a book and some articles out about her.
One of the things that lead to my vegetarianism was an article about
Koko in National Geographic a long time ago. (I believe there was an
earlier TV special, perhaps a Nova, about her and about the chimp
"Washo" who was taught to communicate by pressing buttons with
ideograms). Koko speaks sign language (I don't know if it's standard
ASL).
Koko was given a kitten as a pet. She had the kitten for a year or
so, and then one day the kitten escaped from the site, and was hit by
a car.
When the kitten wasn't around, Koko asked where it was.
When told, Koko cried.