Primate sanctuaries provide refuge for animals rescued from laboratories, entertainment, and the illegal pet trade — accreditation standards ensure quality of care.
Primate sanctuaries serve a critical welfare function for animals that cannot be returned to the wild and have complex, long-term care needs. Well-accredited sanctuaries provide species-appropriate social groups, large naturalistic enclosures, species-specific enrichment, and veterinary care tailored to primates. Unaccredited facilities vary enormously, and some maintain animals in conditions little better than what they were rescued from. The psychological rehabilitation of primates from laboratory or entertainment settings can take years and requires skilled, patient care. The high cost of quality primate sanctuary care is a genuine constraint on welfare outcomes.