Oregon Public Broadcasting

A chimpanzee that blew apart the theory that only humans can speak died at Central Washington University this week. Correspondent Anna King spoke with the trainer in Ellensburg who worked with Washoe and has this report.

Washoe was the first chimpanzee to learn American Sign Language. Trainers Deborah and Roger Fouts started working with Washoe in 1967.

Deborah Fouts says Washoe’s ability to speak sign language has challenged the world’s definition of humanity.

Deborah Fouts: "Her son Loulis who is still here and alive but grieving acquired all his signs from Washoe. So he’s the first chimpanzee to learn his signs of American Sign Language from his chimpanzee mother. That’s cultural transmission. It’s a very special phenomenon actually in science."

Fouts says the language studies will continue with the three remaining chimps at their institute in Ellensburg.

She says that Washoe died of flu related symptoms and old age. Washoe was 42 years old.