Primates in zoos have complex social needs that are essential for their welfare, and modern evidence-based standards increasingly require appropriate social housing for all species.
Primate social housing is one of the most critical welfare considerations in modern zoo management. The evidence that social deprivation causes profound psychological suffering in primates is overwhelming, and yet historically many zoos housed great apes and other primates singly or in inadequate pairs. Modern welfare science and accreditation standards are increasingly requiring species-appropriate group sizes, compositions, and social dynamics. Managing these groups requires sophisticated understanding of primate behaviour, careful introduction protocols, and ongoing monitoring. The welfare of individual animals during group disruptions, transfers, and introductions requires particular attention. Progress has been significant in recent decades, but many older facilities still house primates in conditions that fall short of current knowledge.