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http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/08/08/koko.health.ap/index.html

Koko the gorilla calls for the dentist

Sunday, August 8, 2004 Posted: 10:21 PM EDT (0221 GMT)

WOODSIDE, California (AP) -- When Koko the gorilla used the American Sign 
Language gesture for pain and pointed to her mouth, 12 specialists, 
including three dentists, sprang into action.

The result? Her first full medical examination in about 20 years, an 
extracted tooth and a clean bill of health.

About a month ago, Koko, a 300-plus-pound ape who became famous for 
mastering more than 1,000 signs, began telling her handlers at the Gorilla 
Foundation in Woodside she was in pain. They quickly constructed a pain 
chart, offering Koko a scale from one to 10.

When Koko started pointing to nine or 10 too often, a dental appointment was 
made. And because anesthesia would be involved, her handlers used the 
opportunity to give Koko a head-to-toe exam.

"She's quite articulate," volunteer Johnpaul Slater said. "She'll tell us 
how bad she's feeling, how bad the pain is. It looked like it was time to do 
something."

Twelve specialists -- a Stanford cardiologist, three anesthesiologists, 
three dentists, an ear and throat specialist, two veterinarians, a 
gastroenterologist and a gynecologist -- volunteered to help.

"It's not often that we get to work on a celebrity," said Dr. David Liang, 
assistant professor of medicine at Stanford. "Probably, Koko is less 
demanding."

The team came to Koko Saturday, bringing portable X-ray and ultrasound 
machines. They set up shop at her "apartment," which looks like a remodeled 
box car, complete with a makeshift toilet, television, DVD player and lots 
of toys.

After four hours of tests -- including a colonoscopy, gynecological exam, 
dental work, X-rays, and ultrasounds -- doctors pronounced her fit.

Koko, who celebrated her 33rd birthday July 4, was due for a checkup. While 
gorillas in captivity are known to live into their 50s, they are susceptible 
to heart disease and a thickening of the arteries.

Koko and Ndume, her partner of 11 years (he doesn't 'speak'), have been 
trying unsuccessfully to have a baby, and the doctors thought the checkup 
could let them know whether she had any biological problems preventing it. 
She doesn't.

Her teacher, Francine Patterson, was at her side when the anesthesiologist 
prepared to put her under in the morning, and apparently Koko asked to meet 
her specialists.

They crowded around her, and Koko, who plays favorites, asked one woman 
wearing red to come closer. The woman handed her a business card, which Koko 
promptly ate.

Otherwise, Koko was calm, Liang said.

The Gorilla Foundation has studied gorilla intelligence by teaching American 
Sign Language to Koko and another gorilla, Michael, who died in 2000.