Primates are highly social animals for whom solitary housing causes severe psychological harm, yet management challenges mean some captive primates continue to be kept alone or in inappropriate groups.
The social needs of captive primates are extensive and species-specific. Chimpanzees live in large fission-fusion communities, requiring access to larger social groups than many facilities can provide. Marmosets and tamarins form tight family units disrupted by typical zoo breeding loan arrangements. Macaques form complex dominance hierarchies requiring sufficient space for subordinate individuals to escape agonistic encounters. Welfare-conscious facilities prioritise stable, species-appropriate social groups over individual display animals and invest in enrichment programmes that allow primates to exercise cognitive and social capacities.