Over 200 students attend civet event at Tay Nguyen University!

200 students attend civet event hosted by The Civet Project Foundation and Tay Nguyen University

On 28th April, amidst a busy month of civet celebration following World Civet Day (04/04.25), The Civet Project Foundation held an interactive event at Tay Nguyen University in Buon Ma Thuot city, in the Dak Lak Province of Vietnam. The event sought to:

• Enhance public awareness of wildlife use, particularly the exploitation of civets in the coffee industry.

• Encourage responsible consumption and habitat protection, with a special focus on engaging students and the wider community.

• Inspire students to excel academically, develop personally, and actively participate in wildlife and nature conservation efforts.

• Foster opportunities for knowledge exchange between students and international experts in the field of wildlife conservation.

The afternoon's programming included opening remarks by The Civet Project Founder Dr Jes Hooper and representatives from Tay Nguyen University, followed by a screening of the film From Rare to Reckless, which introduced the audience to the nuances and complexities involved in civet coffee tourism including the human, animal and environmental health impacts of wildlife extraction. Students were then invited to take part in an interactive quiz game for the chance to win a variety of prizes, which was then followed by an expert panel discussion and Q&A. The panel, which included Prof Huong and Dr Hending of the University of Oxford opened dialogue between students and experts on topics concerning ethical consumerism and travel, civet welfare, conservation, and the socio-economic potential of alternative wildlife-friendly practices.

A civet's eye close up on the From Rare to Reckless documentary

Dame Jane Goodall on the From Rare to Reckless documentary

Students pose with documentary banner

Students take part in conservation activities

Students work together in groups to compete in the quiz

Dr Jes Hooper and Ms Trinh Thi Mai from The Civet Project Foundation join the panel discussion remotely

The panel take questions from the audience

Students pose with "Say No to Civet Coffee" sign

Students and faculty of Tay Nguyen University pose for a photograph with signs that read "Say No to Civet Coffee"

Speaking on the success of the event, which was attended by over 200 students, Dr Jes Hooper explained:

"This is the third documentary screening event of it's kind hosted in partnership between The Civet Project and Vietnamese universities and we are extremely grateful for the generous welcome and enthusiastic participation by students and faculty of Tay Nguyen University. Events such as this are crucial for capacity building and outreach, as we form professional and collaborative relationships in key areas of Vietnam, those where civets are routinely traded. The feedback and commentary from student participants are vital for developing a thorough understanding of in-situ perspectives, as well as enabling us to bring pro-conservation messaging into key regions. We offer sincere thanks to all who participated in this successful event".

In the coming year, The Civet Project Foundation are growing capacity in Vietnam through the Civet One Health program - Asia's first ever program dedicated to tackling biohazardous and low-welfare commercial civet farming. As part of an ambitious ten year strategy, the Civet One Health program will engage local communities, farmers, restaurant workers, and tour operators, working collaboratively to transition towards sustainable and ethical alternatives to wildlife farming. If you would like to support our efforts in this area, please donate today. Every donation gets us one step closer to a world free from civet exploitation.