Hidden in the Hills of Northern California a few miles south of San Francisco lies Woodside
One of the wealthiest towns in the United States
It is home to a host of celebrities including a western Lowland gorilla named Koko
Whose life challenges what it is that makes humans unique
Over 40 years ago Penny Patterson set out to discover if Humans and gorillas could ever communicate
everyone when they're a child has that doctor dolittle moment where they think
you know if only we could talk to animals and
Here was a chance
what began as a PHD to teach sign language to Koko turned into a life long relationship
what began as a PHD to teach sign language to Koko turned into a life long relationship
what began as a PHD to teach sign language to Koko turned into a life long relationship
It seemed like penny was in love with Koko and the way in which a mother might be in love with the daughter
News about Koko made headlines across the world
 
but throughout their time together penny had to fight to keep Koko
The reality that it really would end
Just didn't enter our minds
Now nearly half a century since the project began the line between humans and apes is being redrawn
A cult in Argentina has ruled that orangutans can be granted some of the legal rights, enjoyed by humans
With over 2,000 hours of footage
Collected over 44 years does project Koko finally prove that animals can communicate their thoughts and feelings
with humans
Or are there some things that will always separate us from our closest relatives?
 
