Jane Goodall hails 'awakening' as US labels all chimpanzees endangered

The primates had previously had a 'split status' with those in US classified as 'threatened' but new rules will restrict scientific research on captive animals

The US has named chimpanzees a fully endangered species, extending greater protections to the apes in a decision that primate researcher Jane Goodall has hailed as a sign of "an awakening".

The US Fish and Wildlife Service director, Dan Ashe, announced on Friday that chimpanzees will no longer hold their unique "split status" under US law, which since the 1990s has protected wild chimps but allowed largely unfettered research on captive animals.