# Civet — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Civettictis civetta (Schreber, 1776)*

> Civets are nocturnal viverrids of Africa and Asia; the African civet (Civettictis civetta) is Least Concern and widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, though Asian species face habitat loss and civet musk farming raises welfare concerns.

**IUCN status:** Least Concern (IUCN, 2015) — African civet  ·  **WARN range:** Sub-Saharan Africa

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Weight | 7–20 kg (African civet) |
| Activity | Mainly nocturnal and solitary |
| Diet | Omnivorous — fruit, insects, small vertebrates |
| Distinctive feature | Masked face; erect dorsal crest |
| Musk | Perineal gland secretion used in perfumery |
| CITES | Appendix III (Botswana) |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Carnivora
- **Family:** Viverridae
- **Genus:** Civettictis
- **Species:** Civettictis civetta (Schreber, 1776)

## Conservation status
- **Status:** African civet Least Concern (IUCN, 2015). Several Asian civet species more threatened.
- **Population:** No global count; African civet widespread and stable
- **Trend:** Stable for African civet; decreasing for some Asian species
- **Assessed:** 2015 (African civet)
- **CITES:** Appendix III (Botswana)

## Key facts: Civet
- Civets are viverrids — related to binturongs and genets, not cats.
- The African civet is the largest civet species, with a distinctive masked face.
- Civet musk from perineal glands was historically farmed for perfumery.
- Kopi luwak coffee from caged Asian palm civets raises serious welfare concerns.
- Most civet species are nocturnal, solitary and omnivorous.
- Habitat loss and hunting threaten Asian civet species more than the African civet.

## Civets across two continents
Roughly 35 civet species occupy the family Viverridae across Africa and Asia. The African civet (Civettictis civetta) is the largest, ranging across sub-Saharan Africa in woodland, savanna and rainforest. Asian civets include the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) and the Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga).

All share a general body plan: elongated body, short legs, long tail and anal scent glands used for marking territory. Civets are not cats — they belong to a separate carnivore lineage that also includes binturongs and genets.

## Civet musk and kopi luwak
Civet musk — a thick, oily secretion from perineal glands — has been used in perfumery for centuries. Historically, African and Asian civets were kept in cages and the secretion scraped from glands, a practice that continues in some regions. Synthetic alternatives now exist for most perfumery applications.

Kopi luwak — coffee made from beans passed through the digestive tract of Asian palm civets — drives demand for caged civets in Indonesia. Civets are confined in small cages and force-fed coffee cherries, causing severe welfare problems. Ethical coffee certification excludes caged-sourced kopi luwak.

## Ecology and behaviour
African civets are mainly nocturnal and solitary, patrolling home ranges of roughly 1–4 km². They are omnivorous, eating fruit, insects, rodents, birds, eggs and carrion. An erectile dorsal crest runs along the spine, raised during aggression or alarm. Civets communicate through scent marking — the musk secretion is deposited on rocks, logs and vegetation. Females give birth to one to four young in dense cover. Civets are adaptable and persist in secondary forest and near human settlement, though primary forest supports higher densities.

## Conservation across species
The African civet is Least Concern with a stable population across most of sub-Saharan Africa. Several Asian civet species face greater pressure from deforestation and hunting. The Malabar civet (Viverra civettina) of India is Critically Endangered and may be extinct. CITES Appendix III in Botswana regulates African civet exports. Reducing demand for wild-sourced musk and caged kopi luwak, protecting forest habitat and enforcing anti-trafficking law benefit all civet species. WARN's work in Indonesia overlaps palm civet range, where kopi luwak farming remains a welfare and conservation concern.

## Related WARN guides
Civets are viverrids — read WARN's binturong guide for the prehensile-tailed rainforest relative, raccoon page for procyonid comparison, and orangutan guide for shared habitat in WARN partner countries.

Kopi luwak farming drives civet welfare crises — avoid civet coffee products.

Forest protection in Malaysia and Indonesia benefits civets alongside orangutans.

## What WARN does
WARN funds anti-trafficking and habitat work in Indonesia, where palm civets are caged for kopi luwak production. This civet guide is free public education about a family of mammals caught between forest loss and exploitative trade.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

## Frequently asked questions: Civet
### What is civet musk used for?
Civet musk — a glandular secretion — was historically used in perfumery as a fixative. Synthetic alternatives now exist for most applications. Some traditional perfumers still use small quantities of farmed musk.

### Is kopi luwak made from civets?
Yes. Kopi luwak coffee is made from beans that have passed through the digestive tract of Asian palm civets. Most commercial kopi luwak now comes from caged civets force-fed coffee cherries — a serious welfare concern.

### Are civets cats?
No. Civets belong to the family Viverridae, a separate branch of carnivorans that also includes binturongs and genets. They resemble cats superficially but are not closely related.

### Where do civets live?
Civets inhabit Africa and Asia — woodland, savanna, rainforest and secondary forest. The African civet ranges across sub-Saharan Africa; Asian species occur from India to Indonesia and southern China.

### Are civets endangered?
The African civet is Least Concern. Several Asian species are more threatened — the Malabar civet of India is Critically Endangered and may be extinct.

### What do civets eat?
Civets are omnivorous, eating fruit, insects, rodents, birds, eggs and carrion. Diet varies by species and habitat. Frugivory is important for seed dispersal in rainforest.

## Sources
- [IUCN Red List — Civettictis civetta](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41691/45217021)
- [CITES — Checklist of CITES Species](https://checklist.cites.org/)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — civet](https://www.britannica.com/animal/civet-mammal-Viverridae)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/civet