The Resume

(circa 1965-October 30, 2007)
Born in West Africa
Chimpanzee
Became the first non-human to learn American Sign Language
Lived at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute at Washington State University

Why she might be annoying:

Despite her pioneering status, she was overshadowed by Koko.
There was heated debate about whether she understood what she was signing or was reacting to prompts from humans.
She was obsessed with the shoes of her human companions.
She was named after a county in Nevada.

Why she might not be annoying:

Her mother was killed by poachers.
She learned over 250 ASL signs.
She learned some signs by observing humans signing among themselves instead of being taught directly.
She taught ASL to her adopted son, Loulis.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 08]
• Don't Say a Word
• I Adopted a Child
• I Died in 2007 (Ranked: 42)
• I Know Sign Language
• I was Adopted or Orphaned
• Known By a Single Name
• Look at Me and My Pet
• Menagerie of Animals
• Primates
• Profiles 21501-21750 (Ranked: 21622)
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 20071030)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 13 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 23 Votes: 39.13% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 39 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 169 Votes: 43.79% Annoying