Wednesday, October 18, 2023
You've likely heard about civet coffee. In the United States, civet coffee is sold for around $80 or approximately 1 million Indonesian Rupiah per kilogram, making it the most expensive coffee in the world. However, the civet farming process doesn't align with its high price and exclusive reputation on the global stage.
"Some enclosures are too small. They resemble wet rabbit hutches with urine and feces all over the place," said Neil D'Cruze, one of the researchers.
"Most civets are also very thin because they are only fed coffee and cherry fruits. On the other hand, some suffer from obesity and cannot move freely. Some even get caffeine intoxication," he continued.
This coffee is produced from coffee beans partially digested by civets, then excreted along with the civet's feces. The civet's digestive enzymes alter the protein structure of the coffee beans and reduce their acidity, giving the coffee a distinct flavor and making it safe for consumption by people with stomach conditions.
Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford and the London-based nonprofit World Animal Protection examined the living conditions of 50 civets in 16 enclosures in Bali. Their findings indicate that, in terms of sanitation and care, all enclosures failed to meet standard animal welfare requirements.
"Some enclosures are too small. They resemble wet rabbit hutches with urine and feces all over the place," said Neil D'Cruze, one of the researchers. "Most civets are also very thin because they are only fed coffee and cherry fruits. On the other hand, some suffer from obesity and cannot move freely. Some even get caffeine intoxication," he continued.
"What's most distressing of all is the wire flooring in these enclosures. These animals are forced to stand, sit, and sleep on wire flooring all day long. Imagine if you were forced to stand on wire all the time; your feet would inevitably get sore and injured. They can't escape from such conditions, and they must be experiencing constant pain and discomfort."
"In addition, these civets don't have access to clean water and cannot interact with other civets. Furthermore, every day they are disturbed by the noisy traffic and tourists. Civets are nocturnal animals, and such disruptions are highly distressing for them," D'Cruze added.
Experts point out that what makes civet coffee truly special is that wild civets can choose the best-quality coffee to eat, while captive civets are forced to eat whatever is provided. Besides being unable to select good coffee, captive civets are also susceptible to stress and diseases, which can affect the digestion process negatively.(*)