Chimpanzees are among the cognitively and emotionally complex animals kept in zoos. Modern chimpanzee management has been transformed by behavioral science, but challenges remain in meeting the full spectrum of their needs.
Chimpanzee welfare in zoos is shaped by their extraordinary cognitive and social complexity. These are animals who form political alliances, engage in tactical deception, grieve for the dead, and have rich cultural traditions — all in addition to the emotional and cognitive sophistication that makes them fascinating research subjects. Zoo management that fails to account for this complexity produces individuals with behavioral pathologies that reflect their deprivation. The improvement in chimpanzee welfare over the past three decades has been dramatic: modern facilities bear little resemblance to the concrete cage exhibits of the 1970s. However, continued improvement requires ongoing behavioral monitoring, regular environmental enhancement, and willingness to make costly infrastructure investments in larger, more complex living environments. The welfare of the hundreds of former biomedical research chimpanzees retired to sanctuary or zoo settings is a particular priority.