Global Animal Memorial

A long-term public-interest archive preserving animal stories, memorial records, source-based case files, and human-animal coexistence memories.

Animal Stories

Washoe: the chimpanzee in sign-language research

2007-10-30 Nevada and Ellensburg, Washington, United States
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Washoe was a female chimpanzee central to sign-language research and died at Central Washington University on October 30, 2007.

Nevada and Ellensburg, Washington, United States

Public-source image of Washoe, Wikimedia Commons image saved locally.
Public-source image of Washoe, Wikimedia Commons image saved locally.

Story

Washoe became central to sign-language research with chimpanzees and reportedly used many ASL-adapted signs.

The archive records the research claims with caution, avoiding a simplistic claim that she spoke human language.

Washoe is archived because animal cognition history must preserve both evidence and the individual animal life.

Sources

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