Dumb (or not so Dumb) Creatures by Nikki E Salt

I’ve just been reading a fabulous book to a group of children called Dumb Creatures by Jeanne Willis. It is an extraordinary tale about a young boy who can hear and think for himself but cannot speak and he forms a friendship with a gorilla who has learned sign language. Disaster strikes and the boy decided to stage a protest. However, can he make himself heard amid the shouts and shrieks of the crowd? Ultimately it is a story about making yourself heard but it also poses the question of how do animals make themselves heard?

Do we even give them a chance?   

Many of us who have pets would absolutely agree that they understand much more than we give them credit for. My own little Ella the black Lab is only a year old and loves it when I throw the ball for her. When she is trying to get my attention she will drop the ball in front of me and if I still ignore her (or pretend to) she will roll the ball towards me using her paw. I certainly didn’t teach her to do that!

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

    or let the fish in the sea inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know

    that the hand of the LORD has done this? Job 12:7-9

Some of you might remember the true story of Koko the gorilla who did learn sign language and stunned the world with her understanding and intelligence. A journalist was reported to have interviewed Koko and asked her what she thought was the meaning of life. The gorilla signed, “People be polite, people have goodness.”  There are many records of Koko communicating through signing though there is still some dispute about whether she really did sign. I can only say, see for yourself! There are a few books about her (indeed Jeanne’s book mentioned above used Koko as her inspiration) and various videos available online including this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4QQ8Mfjb_g

It seems clear to me.