AAP is a European sanctuary for exotic animals. The animals that end up with AAP often come from illegal trade, research laboratories, circuses, illegal zoos or directly from private people. The foundation specializes in hosting apes and monkeys. Other small exotic mammals can also find a shelter there, including raccoons, skunks and prairie dogs. When they arrive at AAP they often have been seriously abused and severely neglected. At AAP the animals receive the professional care needed for their recovery. Its aim is to make the animals mentally and physically healthy and to place them in a more natural environment, such as in a natural enclosure or in a renowned zoo.

Originally, AAP served as a temporary shelter only. However, AAP has developed a special retirement plan for those apes which cannot be placed anywhere else. It consists of the Islands in Almere, which were put into use in 2001, the Chimpanzee Complex, put into use in 2006, and the Primadomus project in the south of Spain which is just put into use one or two years ago.