Chimpanzees in captivity form strong social bonds that are disrupted by transfers between facilities. Managing social bonds carefully through thoughtful group composition and careful introduction protocols improves welfare significantly.
Chimpanzees are highly intelligent social animals who form deep emotional bonds with companions. Disrupting these bonds through transfers or regrouping causes genuine grief-like responses and social instability that can persist for months. Prioritising social bond maintenance in transfer decisions and conducting introductions with patience and care significantly reduces welfare costs.