4 April - World Civet Day!

World Civet Day (04/04/26) Celebrates healthy civets for a healthy planet, and BIAZA echoes the important messaging from The Civet Project Foundation.

World Civet Day is an international awareness day that celebrates civets and promotes their protection. World Civet Day provides a platform to educate the public, challenge harmful practices, and unite conservation centres, zoos, sanctuaries and individuals who share a commitment to protecting these often-misunderstood animals.

What are civets?

Civets are small, nocturnal mammals, part of the Viverridae family, which also includes genets, oyans and binturong. They inhabit forests, farmland and even areas close to human settlements across Asia and Africa, making them highly adaptable but also particularly vulnerable to human pressures. 

Ecologically, civets play an important role as seed dispersers, helping to maintain forest health and biodiversity. Despite this, civets are increasingly captured from the wild, caged and force-fed coffee so that they can produce kopi luwak (civet coffee)- the most expensive coffee in the world made from civet poop! And, civets are traded as bushmeat, traditional medicine and exotic pets – all of which have harmful effects for the health and wellbeing of civets, the environment and humans. The low public profile of civets means these threats often receive far less attention than those faced by more iconic species.

World Civet Day 2026: Healthy Civets, Healthy Planet!

Under the slogan “Healthy Civets, Healthy Planet”, World Civet Day 2026 explores all the way that civets keep our planet healthy via their natural seed dispersing and germination behaviours, and how their unregulated trade can pose serious health risks because they can carry diseases that can pass onto humans. 

While many people want to try the world’s most famous coffee, few consumers are aware of the consequences of removing civets from the wild or the health risks imposed on civet farm workers who must handle civet faeces. Only by keeping civets in the wild can we ensure that civets, humans and the environment are protected.

World Civet Day 2026 invites individuals, organisations, zoos, businesses and educators to take part by sharing information, hosting events, fundraising and making ethical choices that support civet conservation.

Many BIAZA zoos which home civets and viverrids will be continuing their vital education work to raise awareness for the challenges these species face, and how the public can help.