Chimpanzees in zoos have complex cognitive needs that require sophisticated enrichment programmes to prevent boredom, stress, and abnormal behaviours.
Cognitive enrichment for chimpanzees is not optional — it is welfare-critical. High intelligence correlates with high suffering potential when needs go unmet. The challenge for zoos is designing enrichment that reliably engages complex minds without habituating chimps to predictable routines. Rotating novel challenges, involving individuals in food puzzle design choices, and creating social opportunities for collaborative problem-solving represent the current frontier. Welfare science has shown that the quality and unpredictability of enrichment matters as much as quantity.