Koko the Gorilla's Handlers Sue for "Obscene" Gesture Requests

Koko the gorilla is famous for her sign language skills as a source of communication between her and her handlers. Last month two fired caretakers have sued the Gorilla Foundation and its president, Francine "Penny" Patterson, claiming they were pressured to expose their breasts as a way of bonding with the 300-pound simian. According to the story it was claimed that these two handlers were threatened that if they "did not indulge Koko's nipple fetish, their employment with the Gorilla Foundation would suffer," the lawsuit alleged.

Nipple fetish? Koko the gorilla has a nipple fetish? And women handlers must lollygag around Koko naked? I think that paints a wrong picture by saying "fetish" here. According to Malinda Zeilinger, a retired Gorilla Foundation employee, said that it's only natural for a gorilla to be curious about human breasts.

I would think so. Wouldn't you if Koko has a 1000 plus sign language vocabulary, paints pictures and cuddles up with kittens? I'm sure Koko is rightly curious about the human anatomy as well. Why wouldn't she be with her intelligence and being around humans nearly all of her 33 years? Didn't Ms. Patterson warn the handlers about Koko's curiousity for human breasts when they were hired?

Zeilinger, who recently retired as the foundation's evening monitor, said the plaintiffs "weren't good employees" and overreacted to Koko's childlike curiosity.

"Sometimes, I'd come to work with glitter on (my blouse), and she'd want to see what's under that," Zeilinger said. "If a little child comes up and looks under your skirt, you don't find that disgusting.

"It's not like anything gets filmed. It's not like there's a lot of men around," she added. "Most mature adults would just think, 'ho-hum.'"

Koko, who has displayed a maternal instinct with pet kittens, might also wonder if women are nursing under certain types of shirts, Zeilinger said.

And now they want to sue for a cool $1.5 million dollars?

Ok. Whatever. But the two handlers also included in the suit that they were also fired because they reported to California Division of Occupational Safety and Health when they saw unsafe conditions seeing rodents (rats or mice?) in the food preparation area and gorilla urine stored in the refrigerator where workers kept their lunches.

Gak! Urine in the fridge where lunches are kept?

Of course, the inspectors visited the site and found code violations, and the next day, the two handlers were fired. Coincidence? Or bad blood? Forcing employees to show their ampleness to a female gorilla? Allow the gorilla to observe but don't interfere in the process? Remember, the gorilla is butt ugly. And nothing is sexual. It's a self-discovery process for her. It has always been that.

Zeilinger, who recently retired as the foundation's evening monitor, said the plaintiffs "weren't good employees" and overreacted to Koko's childlike curiosity.

"Sometimes, I'd come to work with glitter on (my blouse), and she'd want to see what's under that," Zeilinger said. "If a little child comes up and looks under your skirt, you don't find that disgusting.

"It's not like anything gets filmed. It's not like there's a lot of men around," she added. "Most mature adults would just think, 'ho-hum.'"

I wonder how she would react to a male's lower anatomy? *Poke* *Poke* *Yank* *Yank*

Now, remember, Koko is 33 years old. And the gorilla is a female...not male if you haven't been reading carefully. Just because she's 33 year old doesn't mean she thinks like a human being of the same age. Her mind is more of a human child. Always curious and wanting to learn about the world around her with no shamefulness. There's no oogling involved on Koko's part. However, some people think that for a gorilla to learn sign language as a mean to communicate or act like a human being is a bad thing.

A 30-year Woodside resident, Hodges has avoided donating time or money to the preserve, although she actively supports dozens of environmental nonprofit groups, including the African Wildlife Foundation. "I don't approve of making animals behave like humans," she said. "I kind of feel sorry for Koko."

Welcome to the Planet of the Apes where ASL reigns. Yeah, right. Only in your dreams. Maybe in Laurent, SD where Nederveld Associates, Inc., a West Michigan-based land planning, civil engineering and surveying firm, will now serve as lead designer for Laurent, S.D. This is to be a new town intended for individuals who communicate using sign language. Go move over there. Oh, and bring your cell phone and yak all you want. I will. Come between me and my phone you won't.