Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives and have exceptional social and cognitive complexity requiring the most sophisticated welfare management of any zoo species.
Chimpanzee welfare sits at the pinnacle of zoo welfare complexity because of the cognitive and social sophistication of the species. The welfare standard for chimpanzees must account for social relationships — alliances, rivalries, kinship bonds — that play out over decades and cannot be simply reset. The introduction of a new individual to an established group can destabilize complex social dynamics and cause significant welfare harm to multiple animals simultaneously. Enrichment programs must challenge a mind capable of abstract problem-solving; simple food puzzles that stimulate a less cognitively complex species may be inadequate for a chimpanzee. The legacy of research and entertainment uses of chimpanzees — many of whom are now in sanctuary care — creates an additional welfare obligation to address their specific histories of deprivation and trauma through specialized, patient rehabilitation.