The Civet Project Pledges To Reverse The Red For Owston's Civet and Binturong

Owston's civet (Chrotogale owstoni) & Binturong (Arctictis binturong)

As of  2024, we joined the global Reverse the Red movement, led by the IUCN. Together, in collaboration with our partners, we are working to reduce the decline of Viverrid species around the world. To do so, we are pledging to reduce the decline of not just one,  but two species! - the endangered Owston’s civet (Chrotogale owstoni), and, the largest of the Viverrids, Binturong (Arctictis binturong) who are Vulnerable to extinction.

What is Reverse The Red

“Reverse the Red is a global movement that ignites strategic cooperation and action to ensure the survival of wild species and ecosystems.”

Reverse the Red is a monumental movement, formed by many organisations working to halt the decline of biodiversity loss globally. That means protecting the plants and animals, and the essential habitats they call home. It brings scientists, advocates, zoos, aquariums, charities and conservation NGOs together in collaboration to share data-driven and science-based approaches, so they can then assess, plan, and act for species conservation. 

The Reverse the Red initiative has seen many success stories, such as the rehabilitation of over 120 critically endangered sunda pangolins (Manis javanica), lears macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) & bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) reintroductions, and habitat restoration for the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). This only scratches the surface of the success made possible through data-driven, collaborative conservation action. 

The Civet Project Foundation pledge to Reverse the Red for Viverrids

The Civet Projects Pledge's

As the world's leading voice of Viverrids (civets, binturong, genets, and oyans), we have gladly joined the Reverse the Red movement, already sharing key values of collaborative and science-led approaches to conservation issues.  Currently,  3 viverrid species are endangered, 6 vulnerable, 3 near-threatened, and a shocking 17 are in decline. From assessing the species in decline, The Civet Project has pledged to both the endangered Owstons civet (Chrotogale owstoni) and the vulnerable Binturong (Arctictis binturong). By pledging to these two species, The Civet Project commits itself to reversing their decline through strategic, science-led, and collaborative conservation action.

The Civet Project is approaching the pledge by raising awareness and inspiring human behavioural change, assessing species population health via trade threats, and supporting species recovery through a network of ex-situ and in-situ partners. The Civet Project implements a one health, one welfare, one plan approach to Viverrid protection. In practice, this means exploring the wide-reaching impacts that the threats to binturong and owston's civet survival have on conservation, animal welfare and human health. 

Why the Owston's civet and Binturong? 

Both Owston's civet and binturong are at risk from illegal trade

The Owston's civet - Endangered 

Small, elegant and mysterious, these are one of the few viverrids found on the forest floor of Vietnam. Once occupying much of Vietnam, they are now extinct in most of their historical range, and the current populations are holding out in the last species stronghold: The Amannite mountains (Timmins, et al, 2016) . These terrestrial civets are often the victim of snares, a cruel capture technique which dominates the forests of Vietnam and beyond. 

Though they have protected status, Owston’s civet are still captured and used for meat, pelts, traditional medicine and the pet trade (Willcox, 2020). These civets are important ecosystem indicators for climate change, as they require very specific climatic conditions (Nguyen, et al, 2022). Further, with a primarily invertebrate diet, they disturb soil which in turn aids seed germination and forest regeneration (Mallen-cooper, et al, 2019). These endangered and understudied small mammals could be having a far more complex role in their ecosystem than we know, and it's essential we understand this further and reduce their decline. 

The Binturong - Vulnerable 

As the largest arboreal Viverrid species, binturong are potentially one of the most well known of the family. Binturong are present throughout Southeast Asia, mostly within the dense forests. Throughout their range, they fall victim to hunting snares and are also used in the civet coffee, meat, traditional medicine or the pet trade (Wilcox, et al, 2016). In recent years, keeping binturongs as pets has become more popular in the Philippines and beyond, and there is limited knowledge on how this could impact their population going forward (Gomez and Shepherd, 2024). Their requirement for large trees also means that habitat loss is a significant threat. Binturong are key seed dispersers, especially for the fig tree, meaning they can aid in forest rejuvenation (Nakabayashi, et al, 2019). 

Hopes for the future 

Here at The Civet Project, we know that collaborating with stakeholders is the best way to safeguard Owston’s civet, binturong, their habitats, and the communities living and interacting alongside them. 

Already, we have taken big steps in protecting Viverrid species. The establishment of World Civet Day on April 4th 2024 reached > 100 000 people, this raised the profile of civets; including Binturong and the Owston's Civet. This year, the theme of World Civet Day is Civet Coffee- a key driver towards the decline in both Owston's civet and binturong species.

We established the first ever SSC (Species Survival Commission) Civet working group in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group, to which many in our team are active members. The Civet Working Group is made up of experts across the globe, who are working on civet education, population & mapping, and understanding the genetic lineages and taxonomy of this under-studied family. All these actions are vital for generating evidence-based solutions to the threats these species face. 

We are actively working to reduce trade demand for Viverrid species, with the recent focus being the civet coffee tourism industry. In 2024, we published the first industry leaders report on the civet coffee tourism industry, and have worked to hold companies such as TripAdvisor accountable; and continue to do so.  

We are now urging the UK government to include civet coffee tourism in the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023, after Tripadvisor reversed their promise to address civet coffee attractions that breach their own animal welfare policy. We also continue to work with the Asia for Animals Coalition, the largest coalition of animal advocacy groups in the world, to hold Tripadvisor accountable to their civet welfare commitments.

Earlier this year, to enhance knowledge sharing and best practice, we ran the first of its kind, Viverrid Workshop in partnership with Dudley Zoo & Castle, and the BIAZA Mammal Working Group. This event brought together in-situ and ex-situ stakeholders to discuss all things Viverrids. As part of an ambitious and innovative program, we also launched our Ambassador Training Program, where delegates were trained to raise the profile of civets in their local communities. This sharing of knowledge will contribute to a lasting, connected, group of Viverrid enthusiasts who can spread the word on these wonderful understudied species.

This is of course just a snapshot of some of the actions we are taking to protect and increase awareness of the Owston's Civet and Binturong. Our species pledges will foster partnerships that can only build upon these actions and give rise to new ways we can work together to reverse the red for Viverrids around the world.

How Can I help?

• Make a donation to support our work protecting binturong and civets from the civet trade

• Celebrate World Civet Day on 04/04 with our FREE education and fundraising packs

• Subscribe to our mailing list

Author: Keyana Jeffrey

References

Nguyen, T.A. et al. (2022) “Rapid decline and fragmentation of the distribution of an enigmatic small carnivore, the Owston’s Civet, in response to future climate change,” Frontiers of Biogeography, 14(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.21425/F5FBG53201.

Timmins, R.J., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Duckworth, J.W., Gray, T.N.E., Robichaud, W., Willcox, D.H.A., Long, B. & Roberton, S. 2016. Chrotogale owstoni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T4806A45196929. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T4806A45196929.en. Accessed on 28 February 2025.

Willcox, D. (2020) “Conservation status,  ex situ priorities and emerging threats to small carnivores,” International Zoo Yearbook, 54(1), pp. 19–34. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/izy.12275.

Mallen‐Cooper, M., Nakagawa, S. and Eldridge, D.J. (2019) “Global meta‐analysis of soil‐disturbing vertebrates reveals strong effects on ecosystem patterns and processes,” Global Ecology and Biogeography, 28(5), pp. 661–679. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12877.

Nakabayashi, M. et al. (2019) “Limited directed seed dispersal in the canopy as one of the determinants of the low hemi-epiphytic figs’ recruitments in Bornean rainforests,” PLOS ONE, 14(6), p. e0217590. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217590.

Gomez, L. and Shepherd, C.R. (2024) “The illegal trade of binturongs in Indonesia (arctictis binturong),” Discover Animals, 1(1), p. 27. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44338-024-00029-8.

Willcox, D.H.A., Chutipong, W., Gray, T.N.E., Cheyne, S., Semiadi, G., Rahman, H., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Jennings, A., Ghimirey, Y., Ross, J., Fredriksson, G. & Tilker, A. 2016. Arctictis binturong. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T41690A45217088. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41690A45217088.en. Accessed on 28 February 2025.