Learn About Chimpanzees - Meet the Family

Wahoe's family, a unique group of chimpanzees who have acquired the signs of American Sign Language, live at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) in Ellensburg, Washington.

Four of the chimpanzees, Washoe, Moja, Tatu, and Dar, were cross-fostered. Cross-fostering is when the adults of one species raise the young of another species. In this case, chimpanzees were raised in a human environment as deaf human children would be. For example, they used a high chair during meals, played with toys, drew pictures, took naps, ate with spoons, and learned to use the toilet.

Washoe, Moja, Tatu, and Dar were immersed in American Sign Language (ASL), and they learned to communicate by using signs in their daily interactions. For instance, Washoe signed about when it was TIME to EAT, asked WHO was coming over to PLAY, and requested BANANAS or APPLES to eat.

Unlike the other four chimpanzees, Loulis was not cross-fostered. Loulis was raised by his adoptive mother Washoe and other chimpanzees. Human signing around Loulis was at first limited to seven signs, but he picked up many more from Washoe and the other chimpanzees who signed to and around him.

Learn more about the chimpanzees at CHCI through the links on the left or below:

Washoe: Biography | Photo gallery | Video clip Tribute page

Moja: Biography | Photo gallery | Video clip

Tatu: Biography | Photo gallery | Video clip

Dar: Biography | Photo gallery | Video clip

Loulis: Biography | Photo gallery | Video clip