U.S. FWS Proposes Listing ALL Chimpanzees as “Endangered”!
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a proposed rule that would change the status of chimpanzees in captivity from “threatened” with restrictions, to “endangered,” which would end the harmful exploitation of chimpanzees in the U.S. The current listing of chimpanzees under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) splits Pan troglodytes (chimpanzees) into two categories—born in the wild and living in captivity. Chimpanzees in the wild have been considered “endangered” since 1990, but chimpanzees living in captivity are merely considered “threatened,” and are also listed under a special category that exempts them from all of the protections of the ESA!
The FWS received a legal petition from a coalition of animal advocates and conservation groups in 2010 asking it to list all chimpanzees as endangered, which initiated a thorough review of chimpanzee status under the ESA. NAVS and many other organizations provided strong data in support of increased protections for all chimpanzees during the review process and we are very pleased at the outcome of that review.
The proposed change would list all chimpanzees as endangered, and would eliminate the special category that allows for the commercial exploitation of chimpanzees in this country. If adopted, the new listing will make it more difficult to use chimpanzees for invasive research and should end the commercial exploitation of chimpanzees in entertainment and exhibition. It will also require anyone wanting to purchase, sell or transfer a chimpanzee to obtain a permit, but permits will only be issued for scientific purposes or to enhance the survival of chimpanzees. Individuals currently owning a chimpanzee would not need a permit unless they want to use or trade the animal in interstate commerce.
More to come....
