Accredited primate sanctuaries provide lifetime care for former research, entertainment, and pet primates, requiring substantial ongoing welfare investment.
Primate sanctuary welfare requires exceptional ongoing investment because the animals arriving have often spent years in conditions that caused lasting psychological damage. Chimpanzees from biomedical research may be profoundly fearful of humans, show self-injurious behaviours, and be incapable of normal social interaction. The rehabilitation process — slowly building trust, introducing social companions through careful managed sessions, and creating environments that allow natural behaviour — takes years. Genuine sanctuaries that achieve GFAS accreditation commit to lifetime care regardless of cost, maintain appropriate space and social grouping, and fund ongoing veterinary care. The funding model — primarily private donations — creates financial vulnerability that threatens long-term welfare commitments.