Primate sanctuaries rehabilitate monkeys rescued from the pet trade, entertainment, and biomedical research. Understanding what good welfare looks like helps visitors make ethical choices.
The proliferation of facilities calling themselves sanctuaries while engaging in commercial primate exploitation creates significant welfare harm. Facilities that allow tourists to hold baby monkeys, take selfies with adults, or interact with primates in shows are driving demand for the illegal pet and entertainment trade. Baby primates used in such encounters are typically separated from their mothers as infants — causing severe psychological trauma — and discarded when they become too large or aggressive for public contact. Legitimate sanctuaries provide lifetime care for non-releasable primates in appropriate social groups, with minimal public interaction. Distinguishing genuine from exploitative facilities requires checking accreditation, visiting conditions, and policies on breeding and public contact.