Great Ape Welfare in Zoos | Animal Welfare Hub

Chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, and orangutans have the most complex cognitive and social needs of any zoo-kept animals, making their welfare one of the most challenging areas in zoo management.

Key Facts

Wild chimpanzees live in complex fission-fusion communities of 15-150 individuals
Great apes require social complexity, tool use opportunities, and cognitive challenges
Post-traumatic stress-like behaviours have been documented in apes with history of poor care
Some apes rescued from research facilities require years of rehabilitation before joining social groups
The Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) coordinates conservation and welfare efforts globally

Welfare Considerations

Great apes are cognitively the most similar to humans of any zoo-kept species. Their social intelligence, emotional complexity, and capacity for suffering are well-documented. Apes in poor welfare conditions show depression, stereotypic behaviour, and self-harm. Even in excellent facilities, the cognitive deprivation of captivity relative to wild life is significant. The strongest welfare case is for genuinely large, cognitively complex environments with stable social groups. Sanctuaries for apes rescued from research or entertainment provide relevant models.

What You Can Do

Only visit facilities meeting EAZA or equivalent great ape welfare standards
Support the Jane Goodall Institute, Ape Action Africa, and wild great ape conservation
Oppose use of great apes in entertainment, social media, or advertising
Advocate for retirement to sanctuary of research apes where not already required
Follow great ape welfare research from institutions including Chester Zoo and Burgers Zoo