New Partner! Peppermint Narwhal

Peppermint Narwhal have joined the Civet Project Foundation as a creative conservation partner to raise awareness about civets! 

Animal lovers and conservationists around the world have long been enamoured with the designs of Peppermint Narwhal, US based artists whose unique and engaging designs have been promoting conservation action since 2014.

Peppermint Narwhal are well known in the conservation community for their dedication to wildlife conservation, telling stories through creativity to shed light on the world’s biodiversity. Their popular design series’ including “5 Fast Facts”, “Endangered”, ”Animal Files”, and “Know Your Animals”, bring a wide range of taxa to international audiences- sparking interest and conservation support for animal species including those that are under-represented in scientific communications. 

To celebrate the launch of this exciting new partnership for the protection of civets (and all related species within the Viverridae family!), Peppermint Narwhal and The Civet Project Foundation are releasing two brand new pin badges: Owston’s civet and Binturong.

VOTE NOW for your favourite!

Speaking of the importance of this new partnership, Dr Jes Hooper, founder of The Civet Project Foundation explained:

“We are over the moon to be partnering with Peppermint Narwhal whose designs are simply iconic in the conservation community. Civets, genets, linsang, oyans, and binturong are often absent from conservation messaging despite the varied and significant threats these species face. Our partnership with Peppermint Narwhal will help us achieve one of our primary charity objectives- to raise the profile of these beautiful yet poorly-known species.”

Both Peppermint Narwhal and The Civet Project Foundation share the view that people can only act to protect species that they are aware of- and sadly civet species are still largely absent from public conservation and animal welfare campaigns. This partnership aims to change that by creating awareness through creative storytelling. In fact, Peppermint Narwhal are keen to raise awareness of every single one of the 36 members of the civet family!

Otter civet design by Peppermint Narwhal

By working together, this partnership will inspire pride in civet species across the globe. Helping to bring the designs to life, the IUCN SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group’s Civet Working Group (which The Civet Project Foundation convenes) have been feeding their specialist species knowledge into the design process, making sure each species is factually represented. Speaking of the importance of scientific and artistic collaborations like this one, Brian Masuga of Peppermint Narwhal explained:

“Saving species is a people problem and a people solution. It requires often complex collaborations spanning a wide range of disciplines, from scientists & researchers, to organizations & advocates, to rescue, rehabilitation & recovery, and yes, even those on the creative front. That is why our mission at Peppermint Narwhal is “Conservation Through Creativity”. By illustrating educational graphics that are fun, playful, and intrigue our curious tendencies, we are able to spotlight the diversity of the animal kingdom from the iconic to the obscure. These graphics can reach a broad audience as the infographics are easy to understand and share. This is how creativity has a space at the conservation table, by helping important animal messages connect and spread. We further the success of this formula by partnering with frontline organizations like The Civet Project, leveraging their expertise, while also helping them promote their important messages about the animals they work so hard to protect. You cannot save a species without first caring about that species, and how can you care about a species that you do not know exists? That is why we think the first, and most important conservation step, always begins with awareness. Sometimes that can start in your social media feed, other times it may be noticing an interesting pin someone is wearing and how that might start a dialogue about, say civets, and their conservation needs.”

The pin badges, which will be available for sale in the US, Canada, and Europe, will help raise vital awareness and funds for Owston’s civet and Binturong protection - which forms part of The Civet Project’s pledge to Reverse the Red for Viverrids. Both species are currently at risk from the civet coffee tourism industry, a key issue that The Civet Project Foundation is addressing through strategic research, outreach, policy change, and community engagement. 

Profits from the sale of these pin badges will be fed directly into the organisations conservation initiatives in Vietnam, the last remaining stronghold of the endangered Owston’s civet, and a region where both Owston’s civet and binturong are in need of greater protections.

Get Involved:

• Vote for your favorite design!

• Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to know when the Owston’s civet and binturong pin badges are available

• Follow Peppermint Narwhal and take part in their upcoming kickstarter

• Learn more by watching our film