Feds expand protections for chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are in danger of becoming extinct, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced Friday new protections for all chimpanzees, both those in the wild and those in captivity. They will be listed as endangered species.

The changes could affect zoos and monkey research facilities that experiment on chimpanzees.

{mosads}The animals suffer from high rates of deforestation, poaching and disease that threaten the species’ survival, the agency noted.

“We speak often of conservation of wildlife as if it’s only about the animals, but really it’s about us and about the world that we want to live in, and the world we want to hand down to our children and grandchildren,” said FWS Director Dan Ashe.

Chimpanzees living in the wild are already listed as endangered species, but the new rule will expand those protections to include chimpanzees living in captivity, the agency noted.

The FWS will restrict the import, export and sale of chimpanzees in the U.S. The agency will grant permits to conduct these activities for certain scientific and research purposes that help the species.

Ashe insisted that the rules would not necessarily prevent zoos from displaying chimpanzees. Presumably, zoos with clean records of animal treatment would still be allowed to have chimpanzees after they apply for a permit. 

“Zoos are not involved in the exploitation or sale of chimpanzees, they’re not involved in the removal of chimpanzees from the wild,” Ashe said.

The chimpanzee population is spread out across 22 countries in Africa.

“Once millions of chimpanzees existed in the wilds of Africa,” Ashe said.

But the number of chimpanzees living in the wild has dramatically declined in recent years, he said.

The protections will go into effect in September.