From Curiosity to Conservation: My Journey with Civets

The Civet Project
Jul 21
5 min read

In this edition of The Civet Project's 'Meet the Researcher' blog, we meet Jessica Meadows, our newest intern, and learn about her journey as an early career conservationist studying one of the rarest civet species on Earth.

Nhut Nhat and Co Ga, two Owston's civet adults (Photo credit: Newquay Zoo)

Discovering Civets for the First Time

If you had asked me a few years ago what a civet was, I’d probably have looked confused and guessed it was some kind of bird. I’m certainly not alone in that – civets and the family Viverridae aren’t exactly household names, even among wildlife lovers. But today, they’re at the heart of my conservation journey. I’ve just started an internship with The Civet Project, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of a team dedicated to protecting these fascinating and highly understudied animals. I have recently graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in Zoology, and as part of my course, I completed a Professional Placement year at Newquay Zoo. It was there that I was first introduced to civets. I became involved in continuing the research project on Owston’s Civets that Frankie (a fellow researcher at Newquay Zoo) had also been involved in. At first, I was simply excited to work with a species I’d never heard of before. But the more time I spent observing civets, the more intrigued I became.

A Growing Fascination

Civets are elusive by nature – nocturnal, solitary, and quietly charismatic. I was drawn in by their unique behaviours, their adaptability, and the way they move through the world largely unnoticed. It didn’t take long before I realised just how little most people know about them, including myself at the start of that placement. That’s something that’s really stuck with me. How can we protect a species if so many people don’t even know they exist? That question has become a huge motivator for me. After my time at Newquay Zoo, I stayed involved with civet-focused work and eventually began contributing to behaviour monitoring with Save Vietnam’s Wildlife. This role has given me a rare chance to observe civets at all stages of the breeding season: before conception, during pregnancy, and even after birth as mothers care for their young.

Watching Civet Lives Unfold

This kind of long-term observation is incredibly valuable. You start to see patterns – subtle shifts in behaviour, tiny indicators of stress or bonding or maternal care. It’s hard not to form a deep respect for civets when you’ve watched a mother carefully grooming her young or seen how they explore their environment with such curiosity. It’s also a stark reminder of how fragile their lives can be, especially when you think about the threats they face in the wild. Those experiences solidified my love for civets and are what ultimately led me to The Civet Project. I knew I wanted to be part of something that not only protects civets but also helps others understand why they matter.

A yawing Owston's civet infant in a nest box (photo credit: Save Vietnams Wildlife)

Jess Meadows (right) at a conservation conference

The Power of Outreach and Education

What excites me most about this internship is the opportunity to share what I’ve learned with others. Like many people, I had never even heard of a civet before my placement year. Given how endangered some species are, that lack of awareness is deeply worrying. That’s why I’m especially passionate about outreach and education – because the more people know about civets, the more we can do to protect them. There’s real power in education. Once someone sees a civet for who they are – living, feeling creatures with their own needs, behaviours, and role in the ecosystem – it becomes so much harder to ignore their struggles. Awareness can lead to empathy, and empathy can lead to action. With this in mind, I am excited to play a role in the continuation of educational resources for The Civet Project and to bring my previous experiences with civets into the mix.

Standing Against Exploitation

I’m also deeply invested in The Civet Project’s campaigns, Civet Free and Civet One Health, which aim to end civet exploitation. Before I became involved in civet conservation, I had no idea that “civet coffee” – or kopi luwak – was made by force-feeding these animals coffee cherries in often cruel, cramped conditions. It’s marketed as a luxury item, but the reality behind it is far from glamorous. Having spent so much time watching civets behave naturally – walking, foraging, grooming, even parenting – it is heart-breaking to think of them being stripped of all that for the sake of novelty or profit. I hope that through this internship, I can be part of building a stronger movement against these exploitative practices. It’s not just about telling people what’s wrong – it’s about showing them what’s right, giving them a real picture of what civets are, and what they deserve.

Owston's civet kittens, filmed in July 2025 (Photo credit: Save Vietnam's Wildlife).

Learning, Sharing, and Growing

Of course, I know that change doesn’t happen overnight. But I’ve seen how much progress can be made when people come together with a shared purpose. Whether it's through educational outreach, policy advocacy, or amplifying the voices of those already doing great work on the ground, every action helps build momentum. My background - both in a zoo setting at Newquay Zoo and through my research with Save Vietnam’s Wildlife – has taught me how powerful collaboration can be when it comes to conservation. Collaboration is another factor that drew me to The Civet Project, given how much they have already achieved and how much they plan to achieve through collaboration with those in and ex-situ.

Looking ahead, I hope my time with The Civet Project helps me grow into a better communicator, educator, and advocate. I want to learn from the team, contribute meaningfully to ongoing campaigns, and help inspire others to care about civets the way I now do. This internship feels like the next natural step in what I hope will be a lifelong commitment to conservation – and it all started with a single placement year that introduced me to an animal I’d never even heard of.

Why Civets Deserve a Voice

So, if you’re reading this and thinking, “What even is a civet?” – you’re not alone. But I hope you’ll stick around to learn more, just like I did. Because civets may be small and quiet, but their lives matter. And with your support, we can make sure they’re not forgotten