[Jeff Higgins]

I'm not sure what this means as far as spirituality. Koko is really no different than any others of her species, it's just the first time we have had an opportunity to see their intelligence in action. Witness the previously documented complex social structure these animals build in the wild. Many, many species do this to a greater or lesser degree and always have. Does it necessarily elevate them to a plane that is even close to mankind's? I don't think so. There are many species at about this level of development either evolutionally or as created, depending on what you believe. Why does mankind stand alone so far ahead of the rest of the pack? How would we really feel, or how would our lives be different, if we really did co-exist with a species bridging the gap between us and other primates? How would we treat them?