10 Rare Spotted Civet Offspring Successfully Born at Cuc Phuong National Park Wildlife Conservation Center
On June 18, Mr. Le Trong Dat, Deputy Director of the Rescue, Conservation, and Development Center at Cuc Phuong National Park, announced that 10 spotted civet cubs were successfully born from four paired parents. They are currently about one month old and healthy.
A spotted civet next to its two newborn cubs. (Photo: Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Center).
At the end of 2023, four female and eight male adult spotted civets were seized by authorities from illegal wildlife trafficking and brought to the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Center for pairing. “The 10 cubs were born naturally from four mothers and are currently quite healthy. The results achieved exceed expectations,” said Mr. Tran Van Truong, a coordinator for Ex Situ Conservation at the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Center.
According to Mr. Le Trong Dat, this is the largest successful spotted civet breeding event ever recorded globally.
Currently, all spotted civets, including the cubs, are under continuous 24-hour surveillance through a camera system. Additionally, minimizing human impact on the civet population is one of the top priorities.
The spotted civet population being monitored 24 hours a day via a camera system. (Photo: Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Center).
In 2023, with the goal of conserving this rare civet species, Cuc Phuong National Park collaborated with the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Center to establish a 1.3-hectare breeding conservation area, including facilities such as fencing, breeding enclosures, and food processing areas.
The project aims for successful breeding and maintaining a stable population of at least 50 spotted civets before beginning to restore their population for reintroduction into the wild. Authorities estimate that the spotted civets may be reintroduced to the wild in Cuc Phuong within the next 3 to 4 years.
The Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Center is seeking additional resources and promoting cooperation with domestic organizations such as the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center, Saigon Zoo, and government agencies to diversify genetic sources.
The Spotted Civet, scientifically known as Chrotogale owstoni, is a small, beautiful carnivorous mammal with high ecological value, and is extremely rare in the wild. It is one of the species with the smallest distribution ranges among small carnivores in Asia, found only in Vietnam, Laos, and a small part of southern China. This species is classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List and is prioritized for conservation.
The population of spotted civets in the wild is severely declining due to hunting and illegal trade for food and pets. Therefore, “protecting and restoring the spotted civet has become a priority in biodiversity conservation in Vietnam and globally,” according to the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Center.
