Chimpanzees retired from research, entertainment and private ownership require lifetime sanctuary care that is extraordinarily demanding due to their intelligence, social complexity and longevity.
Chimpanzees that have been through research, entertainment or private ownership arrive at sanctuaries bearing the psychological scars of their experience. Social reintegration — the most critical welfare intervention for a social species that has been isolated — is complex and slow. Animals that have spent years in individual housing may never achieve full social integration. Trauma symptoms including self-rocking, self-harm and social withdrawal may persist for years with patient sanctuary management. The lifetime commitment required for each individual — potentially 40 years of specialised care — makes chimpanzee sanctuary one of the most resource-intensive animal welfare interventions that exists.