Moja (Swahili: "one"; November 18, 1972 - June 6, 2002) was a chimpanzee at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute.About Friends of Washoe Retrieved 2012-01-23 She was born at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP).Moja's biography Retrieved 2012-01-23 In infanthood, Moja was used in a science experiment by Allen and Beatrix Gardner, who raised her like a human child immersed in an environment of American Sign Language.CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - references 20 studies Copyright 2004-2009 Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute She was later taken in by Roger and Deborah Fouts, who brought Moja and other chimps involved in the sign language experiments — Washoe and her son Loulis, Dar, and Tatu — to Central Washington University.
While engaging in play activities, she was observed changing her appearance in the presence of a mirror using clothing, masks and make-up. She was also observed to place sunglasses upon her head, look into a mirror and make the sign-language sign for "glasses" on one occasion, also using the mirror for the application of lip-gloss and a crayon for the same purpose.Robert W. Mitchell, 2002 - Pretending and imagination in animals and children - 370 pages Cambridge University Press, 21 Feb 2002 Retrieved 2012-01-23ISBN 0521770300
Moja is known as "the first ape to paint figurative works." For example, she drew a circle, colored it orange, and signed cherry.
She had a fear of metal ice cube tray dividers, which her fellow chimp Tatu would taunt her with.
Death Moja died on June 6, 2002 at CHCI of a severe hernia at the age of 29.
See also Great ape language List of individual apes
References