Chimpanzee Ai, known for high literacy skills, dies in Japan

A female chimpanzee known for her ability to recognize letters and numbers has died of old age and multiple organ failure at 49 years of age, according to the Japanese institute that led experiments involving her.Kyoto University's Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, said Ai was born in western Africa in 1976 and arrived at the center the following year.She then began language learning using materials, including computers, at the age of 18 months.Ai died Friday as staff watched over her, according to the center formerly known as the Primate Re…READ FULL ARTICLE