Deborah Fouts facts for kids

Deborah Fouts is a scientist who worked with chimpanzees. She was a co-director at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI). This special place was home to Washoe, the first chimpanzee to learn a human language. Washoe and three other chimpanzees used American Sign Language (ASL) to talk with people and each other. Deborah Fouts is also a professor at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. She is married to Roger Fouts, who was also a co-director at CHCI.

Working with Chimpanzees

Deborah and Roger Fouts started and led the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute.

They have been part of "Project Washoe" since 1967. This project was the first and longest of its kind. Washoe was the very first non-human animal to learn parts of a human language, ASL. The project later focused on four chimpanzees who used sign language. They were Washoe, Tatu, Dar, and Loulis. These chimpanzees used ASL signs to talk with humans and each other. They would comment on their surroundings, ask for things, answer questions, and describe objects.

Loulis learned about five signs from his adoptive mother Washoe and the other chimpanzees. This showed that chimpanzees could teach parts of a language to each other.

The Foutses have published over 100 articles in science journals and books. In 1981, they started Friends of Washoe. This non-profit group helps chimpanzees. They have lived in Ellensburg since 1980. With many students, they did their research and helped the chimpanzees at Central Washington University.

In 1992, they founded the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) at CWU. CHCI is a safe home for chimpanzees. It also teaches students and the public about chimpanzees. Recent research at CHCI looked at how chimpanzees signed when alone. They also studied imaginary play, chimpanzee conversations, and how they drew pictures. The Foutses also compared how chimpanzees used gestures in captivity and in the wild. Before retiring, they started studying chimpanzees in Africa. They recorded and analyzed their gestures to see if they had different "dialects."

The Foutses worked hard to make life better for chimpanzees in zoos and labs. They helped create kinder ways to care for them. They also worked to protect chimpanzees living in Africa. The Foutses helped change the status of chimpanzees in Africa. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife changed them from "Threatened" to "Endangered." This means they are at a higher risk of disappearing. (See Endangered Species Act).

The Foutses also helped create safe homes for chimpanzees. These were for chimpanzees used in space programs or medical research. (See Animal Testing). They also helped promote basic rights for Great Apes. They were founding members of the Great Ape Project.

In 1997, Roger Fouts wrote a book called Next of Kin. It was about their lives with Washoe. The Los Angeles Times chose it as one of the top 100 books of 1997.

Awards and Recognition

• The 1989 Recognition and Appreciation Award from the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, Seattle, Washington.
• The 1992 Award of Recognition from the Performing Animals Welfare Society, Sacramento, California.
• The Associated Students of Central Washington University “Prominent Figure Award” for great service to Central Washington University, 1991-92.
• The 1996 Humane Achievement Award from the Performing Animals Welfare Society, Los Angeles, California.
• The National Association of Biology Teachers Distinguished Service Award 2000, Orlando, Florida.
• The Chimfunshi Chimpanzee Sanctuary “PAL” Award for Chimpanzee Conservation and Awareness, 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa.

See also

• Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute
• Washoe (chimpanzee)
• Loulis
• Mary Lee Jensvold
• Roger Fouts