Did you know that authentic civet coffee is made from civet feces? But the story is much more tragic than that.
Civet coffee, also known as Kopi Luwak, is a rare and highly expensive type of coffee in the world. This coffee is produced from coffee beans that have been eaten and excreted by the civet cat. Enzymes in their digestive system alter the protein structure in the coffee beans, reducing acidity and enhancing the flavor, resulting in a more aromatic brew. A cup of civet coffee can be sold for as much as $80 in the United States.
Living in Southeast Asia and the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa, civet cats have long tails resembling those of monkeys, with stripes on their faces and bodies. They play a crucial role in the food chain, primarily feeding on insects and small reptiles, as well as fruits like coffee and mangoes.
Initially, the civet coffee trade brought many benefits to the civet cats. In Indonesia, civets that feed on fruits in plantations were often considered pests. The growth of the coffee industry has encouraged local communities to protect civet populations.
Wild civets confined in cages for feces collection. (Photo: Blogspot).
However, as civet coffee gained popularity, many wild civets were captured and confined in cages on plantations, partly for coffee production and partly to attract tourists.
Experts from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with the World Animal Protection organization in London, assessed the living conditions of nearly 50 wild civets kept in cages from 16 plantations in Bali, Indonesia. The research results, published on April 28 in the journal Animal Welfare, paint a grim picture of the lives of many civets.
The plantations failed to meet basic animal welfare standards, such as cage size, sanitation conditions, and the ability for the caged civets to engage in normal activities. “Some cages are only as small as rabbit hutches. Inside the cages, urine and feces are everywhere,” said Neil D’Cruze, a member of the research team.
Some civets were found to be very thin, being fed only coffee cherries, while others were obese due to lack of freedom to move around.
According to D’Cruze, the most concerning issue is the wire mesh flooring of the cages that the civets are forced to stand on all day. “If you stand on wire mesh for an extended period, your feet will hurt and your skin will chafe. The civets have no other place to rest. The wire mesh often causes them pain and discomfort,” D’Cruze stated.
Additionally, many civets do not have access to clean water and lack opportunities to interact with others of their kind. This nocturnal species is also affected by the noise from traffic and visitors.
Experts emphasize that what makes civet coffee special is that wild civets select the best coffee cherries to eat. Caging civets and feeding them overripe coffee cherries leads to lower quality products.
