Koko the Gorilla's Tribute to Robin Williams is Incredibly Moving

Robin Williams was invited to meet Koko the Gorilla, who is fluent in American sign language, back in 2001 and they immediately formed a connection and became friends.

The late actor described the meeting as “unforgettable” and The Gorilla Foundation‘s president Dr. Penny Patterson said that “Koko instantly connected with Robin.”

When news of his death was announced, Patterson was with Koko and phone calls started to pour in.

“After the first call, Koko came to Dr. Patterson with an inquiring look on her face. Dr. Patterson explained that ‘we have lost a dear friend, Robin Williams.’ Koko was quiet and looked very thoughtful,” the foundation told Buzzfeed. “Koko became very somber, with her head bowed and her lip quivering.”

They added that Koko signed the words for “woman” and “crying” after overhearing an emotional conversation that Dr. Patterson was having. See the photos below to see the moment.