Great apes in zoos have among the most complex cognitive and social needs of any captive animal, requiring sophisticated welfare provision that leading institutions are increasingly providing.
Great ape welfare in zoos represents both the best and most challenging aspects of captive animal management. Their cognitive sophistication means that the welfare implications of environmental quality are more extensive than for less complex species: a chimpanzee in an impoverished environment experiences boredom, frustration, and social deprivation in ways that are cognitively analogous to the experience of these states in humans. Leading zoos invest substantially in complex social groups, innovative enrichment programmes, and habitats designed to allow the expression of species-typical behaviours. The welfare gap between leading and lagging institutions remains wide.