Fine Gorilla Person

If you grew up in the nineteen-eighties or nineties, you’ve likely heard about Koko, the female lowland gorilla born into captivity, in 1971, at the San Francisco Zoo and thrust into global fame because of her remarkable ability to communicate with humans. From an early age, Koko showed an uncharacteristic desire to be understood by her caretakers; she learned sign language, took selfies with a camera, and even cared for a kitten as if it were her own child. Her main teacher and caregiver, Francine Patterson, became a celebrity in her own right for highlighting simian intelligence and turning Koko into a household name. But, as with many stories involving notorious animals, this tale has a dark side. Lauren Ober, the host of the new Topic Studios/Audible podcast “Fine Gorilla Person,” unpacks Koko’s life and troubled legacy, taking listeners from Koko’s beginnings as a cause célèbre (her visitors included Robin Williams and Betty White) to her final years as a diminished creature living in a small cell, embroiled in sexual-harassment lawsuits. (I won’t spoil it, but Koko was fascinated with nipples and often asked people to show her theirs.) This is the podcast for you if you want to feel newly furious at all the ways our culture demands that monkeys dance for our enjoyment.