Thousands of chimpanzees used in biomedical research have been retired, but sanctuary space and funding remain inadequate for their complex social and psychological needs.
Retiring chimpanzees from research facilities represents a major welfare advance, but retirement brings its own challenges. Chimps that spent years in small individual cages must be carefully reintegrated into social groups, a process requiring skilled staff and years of patience. Many retired chimps show trauma responses including stereotypic behaviors and aggression that require long-term behavioral therapy.