While she cannot actually type, the 26-year-old western lowland gorilla is fluent in modified American sign language.

BBC: News | Sci/Tech | Net goes bananas

Scientists used the DNA of a female western lowland gorilla (called Kamilah) who resides at San Diego Zoo.

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Its cousin, the eastern lowland gorilla, is less prevalent (fewer than 20, 000 individuals) and can only be found in the rainforests of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, says WWF.

CNN: First gorilla genome map offers clues to human evolution

And when the activities on offer include face-to-face encounters with habituated west lowland gorilla families, jungle walks with local Baka (or pygmy) guides and pirogue trips downriver in search of birds and other wildlife, it is hardly a surprise that Odzala has been garnering such attention.

BBC: Gorilla spotting in the Republic of Congo