Chimpanzees are among the most cognitively complex animals held in captivity. Ensuring their welfare requires large social groups, complex environments, and lifetime care commitments that few facilities can provide.
Chimpanzee welfare in captivity requires extraordinarily high standards given their cognitive complexity, social needs, and longevity. Facilities that cannot provide large stable social groups, complex forested or semi-naturalistic enclosures, and extensive daily enrichment cannot meet chimpanzee welfare needs. The transition from research use to sanctuary care for former laboratory chimpanzees has been positive but slow, with many animals waiting years in inadequate conditions. No chimpanzee should be held alone or in a barren environment at any point during their long lives.