Welcome to Friends of Washoe, a non-profit organization that cares for Washoe and her family.

Meet Washoe

Washoe was born in Africa and was estimated to be 42 years old when she passed away in 2007. Washoe was cross-fostered and acquired American Sign Language from her human companions. She was the first non-human in history to acquire a human language. Washoe touched many lives around the world. To read some of the comments received after her death, visit her Tribute Page

Meet Washoe's Family
  Tatu is a 34-year-old female. Her favorite color is black and she seems to enjoy masks.  
Dar is 33, and a pretty mellow guy most of the time. His dad was one of the biggest chimpanzees in captivity.
Loulis is the youngest, at 32. He is Washoe's adopted son and acquired sign language from her.
Moja liked to dress up in clothes and use mirrors. She passed away in 2002, when she was 29.
  Their Home  
Washoe's family live in the CHCI Sanctuary at Central Washington University. You can visit them by attending a Chimposium. Call 509.963.2244 for information.  

CHECK OUT THE On-Line Store!

Friends of Washoe and CHCI are proud to offer our "Chimporium" - our on-line store. In the Chimporium you can purchase great books, limited edition chimpanzee art prints, and CHCI collectables like clothing, magnets, and keychains or a handy tote bag. You can even become a Friend of Washoe or sponsor a party for the chimpanzees through the site. Try out the shopping sitetoday. Take a minute and let us know what you think about it, too.

  Help us earn money everytime you search the internet! 

simply click on the link below and you will be ready to search through Goodsearch! Every search will earn FOW 1 penny!

 

  GoodSearch: You Search...We Give!

Sponsor a Party at CHCI!

You can become a valuable partner in our holidays and other celebrations by sponsoring a party at CHCI. You sponsorship can make the chimpanzees' birthdays, Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, and Christmas extra special this year. Learn more about becoming a sponsor.

AMAZON WISH LIST

Here is an easy way to help out the family - just click on the link below and it will take you to an Amazon.com wishlist with many things that can help enrich the lives of the chimpanzees that live at CHCI. You can make a direct impact on the lives of Tatu, Loulis, and Dar. There's something for every budget!
CHCI's Amazon wish list.

What's New?

Find out what Tatu, Loulis and Dar are doing today by visiting the Chimpanzee Camera or read about day to day life at CHCI by visiting our blog, Pan bloglodytes.

 


The chimpanzees at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute - Loulis, Tatu, and Dar - have acquired extensive American Sign Language vocabularies and live together as a social group. They gesture and vocalize as free-living chimpanzees do and also use American Sign Language in their interactions with humans and with each other to answer questions, make requests, and describe activities and objects.

Washoe was the first non-human animal to acquire a human language and her adopted son Loulis is the first to acquire a human language from another chimpanzee.

Show the chimpanzees you care by becoming a Friends of Washoe member or renewing your membership. You can join online today!
Donate now!

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Friends of Washoe
CHCI/CWU
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7573
Copyright 2004-2009 Friends of Washoe
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