Behavioral management of pan spp

Chimpanzees and bonobos share more than 98% of their DNA with humans, making them exceptionally important to study and understand. Chimpanzees and bonobos make and use tools and, in captivity, have been taught to understand human speech and to even use lexigrams or American Sign Language to communicate, underlining their intelligence and complex cognitive abilities. With such developed cognitive skills, chimpanzees and bonobos have indisputably critical needs that require appropriate behavioral management strategies that maximize their welfare. This chapter briefly covers the basic natural history of the genus; different behavioral management strategies for captive members of the genus Pan, including socialization, environmental enrichment, and positive reinforcement training (PRT); as well as additional issues related to the study and welfare of captive Pan spp.