Chimpanzee sanctuaries across Africa care for hundreds of orphaned and rescued individuals, providing long-term welfare for animals who cannot be reintroduced to the wild.
Chimpanzee sanctuaries represent a profound welfare commitment. Animals arrive traumatised from witnessing family deaths, potentially years of isolation in inappropriate conditions, and often physical injury. Rehabilitation involves careful social integration - introducing chimps to new groups over months or years using graduated contact protocols. The long lifespan means sanctuaries become permanent homes for most residents. Welfare standards vary significantly between facilities: the best provide large forested enclosures with complex social groups and cognitive enrichment; the worst provide cage housing with inadequate social contact. PASA accreditation provides a framework for welfare improvement across the sector.