Chimpanzees retired from biomedical research deserve lifetime care in sanctuary environments that meet their complex social and psychological needs.
Chimpanzees who have been used in biomedical research often carry lasting psychological trauma. Many were subjected to repeated invasive procedures, social isolation, and other stressors throughout long research careers. In retirement, they require large social groups, complex environments, and consistent caregiving to recover and thrive. Adequate funding for sanctuary care is a moral obligation given the medical advances these individuals contributed to involuntarily. Sanctuary accreditation standards and funding remain major challenges.