Chimpanzee sanctuaries across Africa care for thousands of orphans and confiscated individuals who cannot be returned to the wild. These facilities represent both a welfare lifeline and a model for long-term ape care in the face of ongoing habitat destruction.
Chimpanzee sanctuaries face unique welfare challenges. Most residents have experienced severe trauma — loss of their mother to poachers, illegal captivity as pets, or confiscation after years of isolation. Rehabilitation prioritises restoring social competence, which requires carefully managed introductions into stable social groups. The complexity of chimpanzee social hierarchies means improper groupings can cause serious aggression and injury. Leading sanctuaries provide multi-hectare forested enclosures, species-appropriate food variety, and enrichment programmes that address cognitive needs. Long-term psychological welfare — particularly the resolution of trauma responses — is a frontier area of sanctuary science receiving growing research attention.