World Civet Day was on April 4th!

And although I’m a little late here are some facts about Civets and why we should protect them!

1. Civets are small, nocturnal mammals, part of the Viverridae family (which includes genets, oyans and binturong).

2. They are seed dispersers, helping to maintain forest health and biodiversity.

3. Civets keep our planet healthy via their natural seed dispersing and germination behaviours.

4. They live in forests, farmland and even areas close to human settlements across Asia and Africa, (this makes them highly adaptable but also particularly vulnerable to human pressures). 

5. Civets are increasingly captured from the wild, caged and force-fed coffee so that they can produce kopi luwak (civet coffee)- the most expensive coffee in the world made from civet poop.

6. The low public profile of civets means these threats often receive far less attention than those faced by more iconic or charismatic species.

7. While many people want to try the worlds most famous coffee, few consumers are aware of the consequences of removing civets from the wild or the health risks imposed on civet farm workers who must handle civet faeces.

My current WIP dives into the Bitter Truth (I love a pun) about Civet Poop Coffee!

Have I peaked your interest in these amazing little guys?