General Chat

Gorillas are born with an international sign language of gestures that they use to communicate, scientists have discovered.

Researchers from St Andrews University in Scotland found gorillas using the same signs despite being born and raised on different continents.

The team watched four groups of gorillas in Africa and Europe and found they had a repertoire of more than 100 distinct gestures, 40 of which were common to every animal.

About 160 gorillas – 130 living in the wild and 30 in zoos - were monitored. More than 5,200 hand gestures were observed in a month. Richard Byrne, the co-author of the study, said: “Social transmission did not play a role. We conclude that the great majority of intentional gestures are universal.

The findings are published in the journal “Animal Cognition”

Sounds like they know just how to run circles round us !

Koko the gorilla was taught to communicate using Makaton.
The same 'simplified' sign language that can be used with very young children and those with learning difficulties.

Koko is recorded as having, in a fit of temper, ripped a steel sink from its moorings on a concrete wall then, when having calmed down, blamed it on the pet kitten. So gorillas also have the human propensity for telling porkies.

And, Len, from that example, of knowing right from wrong!!!

It sounds like the 15 year old boys that visit my shop on their way to school