19, 2000. Koko and her more recent potential mate, Ndume, mourned his passing for several months. Koko died in 2018, and staff have since returned Ndume to the Cincinnati Zoo, where he lives with two female gorilla companions. See also Chantek Dian Fossey George Schaller Great ape language Jane Goodall Kanzi List of individual apes Mountain gorilla Primate Primate use of American Sign Language The Mind of an Ape References 1973 animal births 2000 animal deaths Apes from language studies Individual gorillas Individual primates in the United States Animal artists