In one of the saddest animal passings, we’re heartbroken to announce that Koko, the great ape known for her ability to communicate via sign language to humans, has died. The western lowland gorilla was 46 years old, and sadly passed away in her sleep.

“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 in a statement.

For some background, Koko was born on July 4, 1971 at the San Francisco Zoo. When she was just one year old, Dr. Francine “Penny” Patterson began to teach her sign language. She had teamed up with a Dr. Ronald Cohn in 1974, and moved to Stanford in 1974, the year they established The Gorilla Foundation, and continued the teachings there.

Koko was the only gorilla in the world to understand spoken English and had the ability to use signs to communicate and share her feelings with humans. She’s hung out with multiple celebrities, most notably, Robin Williams, and has made countless headlines throughout the years, one being featured by the 1978 issue of the National Geographic (where she took her own photo in a mirror for the cover!). There’s even a book about her called “Koko’s Kitten,” in the 80s, which is still a featured story in elementary schools across the world.

“Koko’s capacity for language and empathy has opened the minds and hearts of millions,” the press release about Koko’s death stated.

It’s true—people all over the world are commemorating the gorilla, whether on their own personal social media or on the official Koko & The Gorilla Foundation Facebook page, talking about how Koko has affected them personally.

“Goodbye, Koko, and be at peace. You will always be a light in my life. Koko made us better as humans,” one commenter on the official page said.

“Koko, you made the World a better place. You taught compassion, understanding and a willingness to reach across perceived borders to communicate and learn. You are the example we should all strive to be. Thank you, dear Koko. May you always be at peace,” another said.

One person even credited Koko for her passion in her choice of study for her education. “I wanted to believe this day would never come. My heart is broken. Koko has meant so much to me, even driving my undergrad and graduate work in linguistics, including an independent study on language acquisition, comparing her to human children,” she said.

Of course, like any being that impacted the world in a positive way, Koko’s spirit will live on—the Gorilla Foundation will make sure of it.

“The foundation will continue to honor Koko’s legacy and advance our mission with ongoing projects including conservation efforts in Africa, the great ape sanctuary on Maui, and a sign language application featuring Koko for the benefit of both gorillas and children,” they said in the release.

Our hearts go out to anyone who was affected by the passing of this beloved and fascinating gorilla. May she rest in peace!

Do you remember seeing Koko all over headlines and TV? Were you affected by Koko’s passing?