Chimpanzees in zoos have complex cognitive and social needs. Recent advances in enrichment science are transforming how zoos support great ape psychological wellbeing.
The welfare science of captive chimpanzees has advanced considerably, with behavioral welfare assessments now identifying a range of positive and negative indicators. The most effective enrichment programs address multiple domains simultaneously: foraging (scatter feeding, novel food presentations, termite-fishing opportunities), cognitive challenge (puzzle feeders, tablet-based games), sensory enrichment (olfactory, visual, auditory novelty), and social complexity (introductions, separations, and management of chimpanzee social politics). Technology enrichment using tablets and touchscreens has shown particularly strong results for psychological wellbeing. However, enrichment is most effective when embedded within appropriate social structures: chimpanzees need stable, complex social groups managed with attention to individual relationships and personality. Welfare assessments should include individual-level monitoring since chimpanzees show substantial individual variation in coping styles.