10 episodes
A Show About Animals VICE
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- Society & Culture
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4.7 • 100 Ratings
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Many of us dream about talking to other animals - but what if we already can? A deep dive into Koko the Gorilla, one of the most hotly contested stories in American science - and what it all says about us humans. From VICE World News.
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A Talking Gorilla
It’s the early 1970s, and grad student Penny Patterson sets out to investigate a big question: is language a uniquely human skill? So she begins an ambitious experiment -- with the help of a young gorilla named Koko. Pretty soon, Penny says Koko is learning sign language. But some doubt Penny’s version of events.
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A Gorilla Who Lied
Koko is learning signs at lightning speed, and Penny’s getting all kinds of attention for her work. But defining language isn’t exactly straightforward. And now, the San Francisco Zoo wants Koko back.
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Uptown Chimp
A rival ape language experiment takes shape. Herbert Terrace, a psychology professor at Columbia University, moves a chimp into a brownstone, names him Nim Chimpsky, and hires an entire team to teach him sign language. Can a chimp create a sentence?
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Nim Chimpsky from the Bronx
Nim the chimp moves uptown into a picturesque mansion in the Bronx. But the experiment only gets harder to manage. And Dr. Herb Terrace reveals a shocking conclusion.
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"A Witch Hunt"
The claws come out at a major science conference in New York, throwing into question the field of animal language research and the future of Project Koko.
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Nipplegate
Penny Patterson focuses on Koko’s future, including trying to find her a mate. But former foundation staffers say behind the earnest headlines and cheery videos coming out of The Gorilla Foundation, Koko’s world is way more complicated.
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Customer Reviews
Loved it
Fascinating, informative, great reporting and storytelling, and well-paced, angering at times (humans are very selfish). Loved the host. Binged all episodes in one sitting. One of the best podcasts I’ve listened to in awhile. I hope there’ll be more seasons with different subjects or even follow-ups.
Well-researched and paced
I was really pleased to find this podcast. The pacing and research was great. The focus on not only Koko but also Nim was wonderful. Recommend!
Love it!
This is such a good podcast, I love it!