In a statement, the conservation charity said: "The Gorilla Foundation is sad to announce the passing of our beloved Koko
" The western lowland gorilla, "the primary ambassador for her endangered species", passed away in her sleep
She was famous for being one of the very few primates to communicate her feelings and thoughts through sign language, learning more than 1, signs
Her keepers said she also understood some spoken English too.How old was Koko the gorilla when she died? Koko was 46 when she died, older than the average lifespan of a typical gorilla
Who was Koko? Born on July 4, 1971 in San Francisco Zoo, Koko's real name was Hanabi-oo
This translates as "Fireworks Child" in Japanese, a reference to her being born on the Fourth of July
Her education began early with Dr Francine "Penny" Patterson teaching her sign language from the age of one
Dr Patterson was originally only supposed to have Koko for a short time but ended up becoming her maternal carer, which she financed through establishment of The Gorilla Foundation
The research centre is best known for "'Project Koko' the longest interspecies communication study in history
" Koko achieved worldwide fame for her love of cats, adopting and naming pets including All Ball who was her best known pal
Following the feline's death in 1984, the cat-loving primate became friends with Smoky, who was smoky-grey and tailless
The pair were friends for 2 years until the cat's death in 24. Koko's incredible intelligence earned her not one but two National Geographic front covers through her lifetime
Her October 1978 cover used a photograph the gorilla had taken of herself in a mirror
She also broke new ground in the first "interspecies" chat on the internet in 1998, informing online participants "I like drinks" through an interpreter
The Gorilla Foundation said: "Koko touched the lives of millions as an ambassador for all gorillas and an icon for interspecies communication and empathy
"She was beloved and will be deeply missed."
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