Non-human primates used in biomedical research face some of the most serious captive welfare challenges due to their cognitive complexity, social needs, and the invasive nature of many research procedures.
Primate research welfare is shaped by the inherent tension between scientific objectives and the profound social, cognitive, and emotional needs of these animals. Social isolation for experimental reasons causes severe psychological distress in animals capable of complex social relationships, grief, and cultural transmission. Painful or distressing procedures require robust ethical justification and pain management protocols. The replacement, reduction, and refinement (3Rs) framework has driven meaningful improvement but significant welfare deficits persist in facilities with limited enrichment and social housing.