Primate sanctuaries rescue animals from the pet trade, entertainment, and research. The quality of care varies enormously — genuine sanctuaries prioritize lifelong welfare over visitor experience.
The word "sanctuary" is unregulated — any facility can use it regardless of care quality. Genuine primate sanctuaries can be distinguished from exploitative operations by whether they allow direct public contact with animals. No legitimate sanctuary permits tourists to hold, feed, or pose with primates because such contact prevents the socialization and behavioral rehabilitation that sanctuaries exist to provide. Primate sanctuary work involves extraordinary commitment: chimpanzees require 50-60 years of care, cannot typically be released to the wild, and need complex social groups for wellbeing. Accreditation by GFAS or similar organizations provides independent verification of care standards. Supporting non-accredited facilities that market primate interaction perpetuates the same exploitation that created sanctuary demand in the first place.