Zoo Animals

Zoo Great Ape Sanctuary Standards

Sanctuaries providing lifelong care for rescued, retired, or zoo surplus great apes face specific welfare challenges and standards around space, social grouping, and enrichment.

Key Facts

There are approximately 1,000 chimpanzees, 200 gorillas, and 150 orangutans in sanctuaries globally
African sanctuaries care primarily for bushmeat trade orphans and confiscated pets
Reintroduction of sanctuary apes to the wild is rarely feasible due to human imprinting
Sanctuary chimpanzees require large, complex forest enclosures with enrichment programmes
Social management is the most challenging aspect of sanctuary care due to conflict potential

Welfare Considerations

Great ape sanctuary welfare requires long-term commitment to providing complex, socially appropriate environments. Sanctuaries that provide genuine forest access, stable social groups, and cognitive enrichment offer far better welfare than minimally compliant holding facilities.

What You Can Do

Support accredited great ape sanctuaries with donations or regular giving
Advocate for welfare standards differentiating high-quality sanctuaries from substandard ones
Avoid tourist activities that commercialise great ape handling
Learn about great ape sanctuary work and the challenges of long-term welfare provision