Capuchin monkeys are used in biomedical and cognitive research, raising specific welfare challenges given their high intelligence, social complexity, and long lifespans.
Capuchin research welfare is particularly demanding given their cognitive sophistication: a species capable of tool manufacture, cooperative problem-solving, and long-term social relationships needs research environments that provide genuine cognitive engagement, social complexity, and physical space commensurate with their capabilities. Housing conditions that would be adequate for less cognitively complex species cause psychological suffering in capuchins. Research institutions housing capuchins face a high welfare bar that requires substantial investment in environments and care.