Macaques are the most commonly used primate in biomedical research, and improvements in their housing, social conditions, and research protocols have significantly improved welfare outcomes in recent decades.
Macaque welfare in research settings has improved substantially through mandatory social housing, enrichment requirements, and the spread of positive reinforcement training. Animals trained to cooperate with procedures — presenting limbs for injection, entering transport cages voluntarily — experience far less stress than physically restrained animals. The quality of social housing matters enormously: compatible pairs with adequate space and complexity provide genuine social benefit, while incompatible pairs in insufficient space may create net welfare harm. Continued improvement requires investment in refinement research and institutional commitment to welfare above minimum regulatory standards.