Orphaned and rescued gorillas require specialist long-term care. Sanctuary programmes that prioritise social integration and eventual wild release represent best practice.
Gorilla sanctuary welfare requires balancing the immediate needs of traumatised individuals with long-term goals of social integration and, where possible, wild release. Infant gorillas separated from their mothers require round-the-clock human surrogate care including physical contact, play and gradual peer introduction. As animals mature, social group formation must be carefully managed to prevent serious aggression while enabling natural social bonds. The welfare standard for gorillas in sanctuary is higher than for zoo populations because the goal includes preparation for wild living — necessitating maintained wild-appropriate behaviours and minimal habituation to humans.