Accredited primate sanctuaries provide refuge for animals from entertainment, research, and exotic pet industries, with welfare standards varying considerably.
Primate sanctuaries face the enormous challenge of providing lifelong care for animals with complex social, psychological, and physical needs. Chimpanzees rescued from laboratories or entertainment may carry deep psychological trauma from isolation and mistreatment. True welfare in sanctuary settings requires large groups, complex environments, and skilled staff who understand individual animal histories. Many primates rescued from private ownership have never learned species-typical social behaviors, requiring years of patient socialization. The long lifespan of great apes means that welfare decisions made today have implications for decades.