Could there
really be pets that understand everything we say? The dream of speaking to
animals runs from Sigurd in Norse mythology right up to Dr Dolittle. Some
researchers have claimed that they can actually do it, by teaching their subjects
sign language or another mutually comprehensible means of communication.
These included famous chimps like Nim and Washoe and the gorilla Koko. A few years ago, we were on the brink of a breakthrough in inter-species communications – so what happened?
These included famous chimps like Nim and Washoe and the gorilla Koko. A few years ago, we were on the brink of a breakthrough in inter-species communications – so what happened?