Washoe, first chimpanzee to speak in sign language

A bronze statue of the chimpanzee,Washoe, the first non-human to acquire a human language skill (American Sign Language), sits at the newly completed Friendship Park.

A bronze statue of the chimpanzee,Washoe, the first non-human to acquire a human language skill (American Sign Language), sits at the newly completed Friendship Park on East Fifth Avenue in Ellensburg, Wash, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012. 

Washoe, who died in 2007 in Ellensburg, was the focus of communication research, along with her adopted chimpanzee family, at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute on campus at Central Washington University. (AP Photo/Daily Record,Mike Johnston)


ELLENSBURG, Wash. — A park in downtown Ellensburg will be dedicated Saturday in memory of Washoe, the first chimpanzee to communicate with American Sign Language.


Washoe came to Central Washington University in 1980 with professors Roger and Debbie Fouts who researched communication with chimpanzees.


Washoe was born in Africa and took her name from Washoe County, Nev., where she lived for a time at the University of Nevada. She died in 2007 at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute on the CWU campus in Ellensburg.


The Daily Record reports (http://is.gd/R8mSgl ) Friendship Park was created by supporters in the Washoe Tribute Group. The park features a statue of Washoe signing the word "friends.


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Information from: Daily Record, http://www.kvnews.com


Ellensburg dedicating park in memory of Washoe, first chimpanzee to speak in sign language

Link: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/406c4a37eca646748b4e814e6f7e79bc/WA--Chimpanzee-Park