The Scientific Meeting on Great Apes and Legislation brought together researchers and professionals to discuss the scientific foundations of current legislative proposals concerning great apes under human care in Spain. The event was organised in the context of the new law promoted by the Spanish Government and hosted at the Congress of Deputies.

During the meeting, speakers stressed that legislation disconnected from scientific knowledge risks failing to ensure effective animal welfare. Contributions focused on key aspects often overlooked in legal frameworks, including the need for taxonomic specificity among great ape species, the integration of mental health from an evidence-based perspective, and the use of multidimensional welfare audits rather than administrative labels such as “zoo” or “sanctuary”.

The event featured contributions from Ana Fidalgo (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Tomàs Marquès (Pompeu Fabra University), Xavier Manteca (Autonomous University of Barcelona), Josep Call (University of St Andrews), and a representative of the University of Girona, Miquel Lloernte, fostering dialogue between academia, policymakers, and professionals from zoological and rescue institutions.

The meeting highlighted the importance of grounding public policy in scientific evidence to ensure meaningful and effective welfare standards for great apes under human care.