Zoos Partner to Tackle Civet Farming in Vietnam
PUBLISHED 03/04/25
The Civet Project and two UK zoos join forces in bid to save animals being force-fed to make ‘world’s most expensive coffee’
Dudley Zoo and Castle in the West Midlands and Drusillas Conservation in Action in East Sussex have joined forces to provide £5,000 for The Civet One Health project - a new initiative set to make waves in the fight against the unethical civet coffee farming industry in Vietnam.
Common palm civets are small carnivores, native to South and South-East Asia. Recently, they have become well known for their role in the production of Kopi Luwak– coffee that is made of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defected by palm civets. Rising consumer demand has resulted in mass caged production, with civets subjected to poor treatment while being force-fed the coffee.
“Whilst known as the most expensive and rare coffee in the world, the reality of civet coffee is much darker. Across southeast Asia, civets are captured, caged and force-fed coffee with devastating consequences for civet welfare, conservation, and human health. The Civet One Health program is an ambitious and exciting program that involves public and farmer engagement for decreased product demand and a transition towards wildlife friendly farming practices. The road is long, but it is achievable, particularly with the generous support from our partners, Dudley Zoo and Castle and Drusillas Conservation in Action. Thank you so much for supporting us in our mission to protect civets from exploitation!” - Dr Jes Hooper, Founder of the Civet Project Foundation
The Civet One Health project will focus on engaging with local farmers, raising awareness among consumers and advocating for policy changes to halt the practice of commercial civet farming, with funding from the two zoos helping to kickstart this vital work.
Despite being 200 miles apart, the two zoos are united in their goal to safeguard civets and end the exploitation of these animals.
“Dudley Zoo & Castle cares for a beautiful common palm civet named Connie, who acts as an animal ambassador for her species. Through this new partnership with The Civet Project & Drusillas Zoo Park, we are now able to ‘go the extra mile’ and support the conservation of her wild cousins in Vietnam.” – Jack Williams, Conservation and Development Coordinator at Dudley Zoo & Castle
“Our resident binturong, Niffler (who arrived from Dudley Zoo last year) is a beloved member of the Drusillas family, so an opportunity to protect wild civets and binturong from being exploited for such a cruel practice is a cause close to our hearts. We are excited to take our partnership with The Civet Project to new heights by joining Dudley Zoo & Castle to deliver impactful conservation outcomes through The Civet One Health project. We’re honoured to help champion change for civets and the communities working to safeguard their future.” - Presha Soogrim, Head of Conservation at Drusillas Park.
Drusillas Park is supporting Drusillas Conservation in Action in further fundraising for The Civet Project by donating 50% of all coffee sales, and 50% of all binturong toy sales on World Civet Day to the cause. Drusillas is also hosting an in house screening of The Civet Project's documentary Civet Coffee: From Rare to Reckless on world civet day, as part of conservation ambassador training for their staff.
For more information on The Civet Project visit; The Civet Project
For more information on Dudley Zoo & Castle visit; Dudley Zoo and Castle