Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People

Overview

Documentary telling the extraordinary story of Koko, the only 'talking' gorilla in the world, and her lifelong relationship with Penny Patterson. Project Koko started as a PhD project to teach sign language to a baby gorilla, but as Koko began to communicate with Penny, an intense bond formed between them. Penny has now been with Koko for over 40 years and claims Koko can reveal fresh insights into the workings of an animal's mind. Koko's unique life with Penny has been filmed every step of the way. Over 2,000 hours of footage chart the most dramatic moments - Penny's battle to keep Koko from being taken back to the zoo in which she was born, Penny's clash with academic critics who doubted her claims and the image of Koko mourning the death of her kitten.

Details

Status

Released

Release date

June 15, 2016

Original language

English

Countries

United Kingdom

Production

BBC

Cast

Penny Patterson,Ann Southcombe,Peter Gabriel,Lisa Schuster,Isabella Rossellini,Robin Williams,Bertie Carvel,Leonardo DiCaprio,William Shatner,Mitzi Phillipsand 3 more

Director

Jonathan Taylor

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

tt5811514