Civets in crisis: How a coffee trend is endangering wildlife

Civets are fascinating, elusive creatures found across Asia and Africa, playing a crucial role in their ecosystems. Here at Newquay Zoo, we’re proud to care for two Owston’s civets, one of the world’s rarest civet species. But did you know that civets face a growing threat from the luxury coffee industry?

What is civet coffee?

Civet coffee, or kopi luwak, is marketed as one of the world’s most exclusive and expensive coffees. It’s made using coffee beans that have been eaten and passed through a civet’s digestive system before being collected, processed, and sold. While originally produced from wild civets, the growing demand has led to intensive farming, where civets are kept in cages, force-fed coffee cherries, and deprived of their natural diets and behaviours.

Why does this matter?

This cruel industry has serious implications for civet welfare, conservation, and even human health. Many civet farms operate with little to no welfare standards, leading to malnutrition, stress, and disease. Worse still, the increased capture of wild civets for the trade threatens fragile populations, including the endangered Owston’s civet.

Newquay Zoo’s role in civet conservation

Newquay Zoo is one of only three zoos in the UK caring for Owston’s civets, a species classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Our civets, Co Gai and Nhut Nhat (meaning girl and shy in Vietnamese), are part of an important breeding and research programme to help protect their wild counterparts.

For over a decade, our team has been at the forefront of civet conservation, working closely with research students to study the behaviour, breeding, and welfare of our civets. Through our research, we’ve gained valuable insights into their reproductive patterns, mate compatibility, and overall health. In partnership with the EEP (European Endangered Species Programme) coordinator for civets, we’ve expanded our focus to include reproductive behaviour, using advanced 24-hour camera systems to monitor key aspects of their breeding season. Additionally, we collaborate with Chester Zoo and EAZA’s reproductive management group for hormone analysis to refine our understanding of civet health and breeding.

Our efforts extend beyond the zoo: we’re proud to be collaborating with Save Vietnam’s Wildlife at Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam, where we are actively monitoring civet populations in captivity, with the hope of potential reintroductions of future offspring. This global partnership, alongside our ongoing work with experts in reproductive management, ensures that civets have a future not just in captivity, but also in their natural habitats. Through this combined research, Newquay Zoo is playing a critical role in the conservation of Owston’s civets, contributing to both the protection and survival of this endangered species worldwide.

Zak Showell, Director of Shaldon Zoo and EEP coordinator for Owston’s civet commented:

“By Newquay Zoo getting involved in watching the camera footage of Owston’s civets at Save Vietnams Wildlife it has not only helped a busy rescue centre have more insight into the behaviour of their residents but it’s also critically helped achieve goals within the 10 year conservation action plan for this endangered species.”

World Civet Day: Friday 4 April 2025

To mark this year’s World Civet Day (Friday, 4th April), we’re shining a spotlight on these incredible but rarely seen animals at Newquay Zoo. Join our Education team in the Barn (number 36 on our map) from 11am until 4pm to explore the world of civets with activities for all ages, plus videos of our resident civets and clips from The Civet Project‘s documentary, Civet Coffee: From Rare To Reckless.

At 3.30pm you can join Ranger Rhianne at our civet enclosure for a special talk to learn all about these elusive nocturnal animals and how we are working to protect them. While our civets are unlikely to make an appearance (they’ll be snoozing!), this is a unique chance to hear about their fascinating lives and the breeding success we have has in the past. Click here to to plan your visit.

By learning more about civets and the threats they face, you’re already making a difference. But you can go one step further by sponsoring our Owston’s palm civets with a digital adoption (£25) and play a direct role in their conservation. Your support helps us protect these incredible animals and their wild relatives. Please email [email protected] to find out more about our animal adoptions, or visit our website here.