Chimpanzee who used sign language dies in Ellensburg
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) - A chimpanzee at Central Washington University who learned to use American Sign Language has died at the age of 36.
Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold says the chimpanzee, Dar, died Saturday morning of unknown causes. Jensvold directs the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute.
Jensvold says an autopsy will be performed in the next few days.
The university says Dar was born at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. He learned to sign from infancy and was moved to CWU in 1981.
Dr. Mary Lee Jensvold says the chimpanzee, Dar, died Saturday morning of unknown causes. Jensvold directs the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute.
Jensvold says an autopsy will be performed in the next few days.
The university says Dar was born at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. He learned to sign from infancy and was moved to CWU in 1981.
His last word? Aarrgghh...
 @GarethB1 You don't write Aaargghh when you're dyin'!!!
I wish I could of seen the chimp sign. I sign as a second language and love it. I think it would have been so cool to hold a conversation with him.
The chimp signed and that made him unique and somewhat remarkable but that didn't make him human. Therefore, a necropsy will be performed instead of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
 @Table9 Same thing dude... A necropsy is just an autopsy preformed on an animal but the terms are used interchangeably.Â