Great ape sanctuaries provide large, naturalistic environments for rescued and captive-born chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans that cannot be released to the wild.
Great ape sanctuaries represent the gold standard for captive great ape welfare - providing large forested habitats, appropriate social groups, and care philosophies centred on animal choice and wellbeing rather than public display. The welfare of great apes who have experienced early trauma - isolation, hand-rearing, research use - requires years of skilled rehabilitation. Sanctuaries provide the space and time needed for genuine psychological recovery.