Chimpanzees in sanctuaries and research facilities have complex social and psychological needs. Meeting these needs requires large spaces, stable social groups, and enriched environments.
Captive chimpanzees, particularly those retired from biomedical research, bear the marks of isolation, trauma, and years of inadequate care. Sanctuary provision must address not just physical needs but deep psychological wounds. Successful sanctuary management involves gradual social integration with compatible individuals, complex enriched environments that support tool use and foraging, and patient human relationships built on trust. The lifetime cost of caring for a chimpanzee ethically exceeds $500,000, reflecting the true cost of having used them in research.