Chimpanzees in zoos have profound social and cognitive needs that require complex, dynamic group structures and rich environments to be met adequately.
Chimpanzee welfare in captivity is inseparable from social complexity. A chimpanzee kept in a small, poorly structured group, or without adequate cognitive stimulation, suffers welfare deficits that express as abnormal behaviour. Zoo accreditation standards have dramatically raised the bar for chimpanzee housing over the past two decades, but implementation varies. Sanctuaries and the best zoo facilities provide dynamic social groups, complex landscapes, and rich foraging challenges that allow chimpanzees to express their full behavioural repertoire. Consumer choice of accredited facilities supports welfare investment.