Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives and have complex cognitive and social needs that make their welfare in captivity exceptionally challenging.
Chimpanzee welfare in captivity requires attention to cognitive and social complexity that exceeds almost any other species. Their intelligence means boredom and social deprivation cause profound suffering — documented in former laboratory chimpanzees as PTSD-like symptom clusters including rocking, self-injurious behavior, and blunted affect. The transition of former research chimpanzees to accredited sanctuaries represents one of the most significant animal welfare advances of the past decade. These sanctuaries demonstrate that even severely psychologically damaged chimpanzees can recover substantially when given space, social groups, enrichment, and patient, trauma-informed care.