Though we can work towards providing the best possible conditions for the chimpanzees in captivity for the remainder of their lives, captivity is no place for chimpanzees.
Chimpanzees pay a price that is sometimes fatal because they are our closest relatives. Chimpanzees in captivity have been placed in situations of human exploitation, as pets, biomedical use, or entertainment.
Captive chimpanzees can be found in many places: biomedical research facilities, zoos, the entertainment industry, sanctuaries, and even in private homes. There are nearly 2,000 chimpanzees who live in captivity in the United States; approximately 600 remain in research facilities, awaiting placement after the ending of biomedical research, approximately 200-300 can be found in private homes, entertainment, and roadside zoos, and about 800 live in zoos and sanctuaries.
Friends of Washoe opposes breeding captive chimpanzees, which only contributes to the population of chimpanzees living in incarceration.