Hundreds of chimpanzees retired from research, entertainment, and the pet trade live in US sanctuaries, raising important questions about long-term care standards.
Retired chimpanzees deserve high-quality sanctuary environments that allow them to recover from research trauma and express natural behaviors. Best practices include large outdoor habitats, stable social groups, choice and control over their environment, enrichment that encourages tool use and foraging, and minimizing medical procedures. Chimps retired from research often carry behavioral and psychological scars; skilled care teams work patiently to rebuild trust and social bonds. Funding these sanctuaries adequately is a moral obligation following decades of research use.