BACKGROUND | SOURCE ALDF

All chimpanzees deserve protection — the ones in the wild, yes, but also the ones captive in labs, zoos, and private homes. That’s why we are rallying our supporters to comment on a proposed rule that would protect all chimpanzees under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Will you comment in support of the proposed rule today?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced its proposal to classify captive chimpanzees as endangered under the ESA — the proposed rule would end the “split-listing” of chimpanzees, which incongruously gives endangered species protections to wild members of the species residing in Africa but not to their captive counterparts living in the United States.

Among other things, the split-listing has led to cruel and unnecessary biomedical research on captive chimpanzees, as well as the routine exploitation and abuse of the species for entertainment purposes and as pets. It’s time…