Washoe

Washoe was a chimpanzee renowned for her ability to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). Born in 1965 and raised in a research environment, Washoe was the first non-human to learn signs, demonstrating cognitive abilities similar to those of human children. Her learning began through interactions with her human caretakers, who taught her signs for various objects, actions, and feelings. Washoe's capacity for communication sparked important discussions about animal intelligence and the nature of language, highlighting the complex emotional and cognitive lives of primates. She lived until 2007, leaving a significant legacy in the study of animal linguistics.