Civits are dying to your espresso. Today is World Civet Day—a day most individuals have by no means heard of however one which desperately must be on each traveler’s radar. Because behind that $50 cup of “cat-poo-chino” lies a worldwide trade constructed on animal cruelty, misinformation, and our obsession with so-called luxurious experiences.
If you’re a traveler, influencer, or espresso lover, it’s time to face an uncomfortable fact: Civet espresso isn’t uncommon. It’s farmed. It’s merciless. And it’s trending for all of the flawed causes.
Civet Coffee: The Brew That Shouldn’t Exist
Civet espresso—additionally referred to as kopi luwak or “weasel coffee” is produced from beans which have handed by way of the digestive system of civets, small nocturnal animals native to Asia. While it began as a unusual discovery of beans collected from the forest flooring, demand shortly turned it into an industrialized nightmare.
Today, most civet espresso comes from civets stored in cramped, filthy cages. Many are illegally trafficked from the wild. The animals are force-fed espresso cherries till they undergo from caffeine toxicity, malnutrition, and stress. All so somebody can say they’ve tried “the rarest coffee on Earth.”
Spoiler alert: It’s not uncommon anymore. It’s mass-produced, and civets are paying the value.
The Social Media Problem: #CivetSelfie Culture
Let’s discuss Instagram. Those lovable civet selfies? They’re not cute. They’re proof of an animal struggling in silence.
Captive civets are sometimes used as vacationer photograph props in Southeast Asia, significantly in Bali and Vietnam. Tourists snap pics, share them, and increase—one other follower needs the identical expertise. But these selfies gas a brutal provide chain the place wild civets are captured, caged, and commercialized for our leisure.
If your journey pics contain a wild animal in a cage, you’re not selling wanderlust—you’re selling wildlife abuse.
How Travel Fuels Cruelty
Travelers unknowingly help civet exploitation daily by:
- Buying civet espresso at cafés or airport reward outlets
- Visiting civet espresso plantations listed on TripAdvisor
- Posing with civets for social media clout
- Not asking tour firms about their animal welfare insurance policies
It’s time to shift the narrative. Ethical journey isn’t about “doing no harm” anymore—it’s about actively doing good. And that begins with being knowledgeable.
What You Can Do Today—World Civet Day and Beyond
1. Say NO to Cat-Poo-Chino
Boycott civet espresso. It’s not unique—it’s exploitative. Try native teas, recent tropical juices, and even sustainably-grown espresso as a substitute. You don’t want cruelty in your cup to have a memorable expertise.
2. Pose with People, Not Wildlife
Civet selfies are contributing to the unlawful wildlife commerce. Choose human connections over hashtags. Trust us, your conscience will thanks.
3. Research Before You Book
Ask tour firms: What’s your animal welfare coverage? If they will’t reply, that’s your reply.
4. Speak Up
Use your voice. Leave critiques, ship emails, and urge platforms like TripAdvisor to cease selling civet espresso experiences. Demand higher.
Civility Isn’t Just Politeness—It’s Action
On World Civet Day, civility means defending the unvoiced. It means recognizing that our journey decisions matter. It means taking a stand—even when it’s inconvenient or unpopular.
In a world the place cruelty is usually rebranded as tradition and exploitation is disguised as expertise, let’s be the vacationers who ask higher questions and count on higher solutions.
Because being variety isn’t mushy—it’s revolutionary.
Want to Help Right Now?
Sadly, vacationers are supporting Civet Coffee manufacturing with out figuring out what’s going on. It doesn’t assist that TripAdvisor has points of interest that encourage guests to go to Civet Farms. That is why Jess Hooper, founding father of the Civet Project, has began a petition to encourage TripAdvisor to subject animal welfare warnings on all Civet Coffee points of interest.
Sign the petition right here. They will not be following their very own animal welfare insurance policies. And simply as all of us got here collectively to work in the direction of ending elephant rides and swimming with dolphins, it’s time to put an finish to Civet espresso manufacturing. Visit www.thecivetproject.com to be taught extra and help campaigns to finish civet espresso cruelty worldwide.
What are Civets?
Civets are cute, shy and solitary. We have had the privilege of seeing them on night time safaris in locations resembling Southeast Asia and Africa have seen first-hand simply how elusive they’re. They have stunning, noticed fur and massive ears that pop up with curiosity when a light-weight shines their approach.
Civets lead lives that play a necessary half of their ecosystem. Their weight loss plan is omnivorous, consisting of fruits, berries, bugs, and small vertebrates, which makes them important for seed dispersal and controlling insect populations.
Unfortunately, the demand for civet espresso has considerably disrupted the civets’ pure behaviors and habitats. Wild civets are captured with merciless strategies resembling snaring and trapping. They are then caged and displayed for vacationers to take pictures with. It is time to place an finish to this.
Want extra moral journey insights like this? Subscribe for month-to-month updates.
About Civet Coffee and World Civet Day
Civet espresso, often known as kopi luwak, is produced from espresso beans which have been eaten, digested, and excreted by civets—small, cat-like mammals present in Asia. The beans are collected from their feces, cleaned, and roasted. It’s typically marketed as a uncommon delicacy, however the fact behind it’s a lot darker.
Don’t purchase or drink civet espresso
Don’t take selfies with wild animals
Support moral tourism operators
Share consciousness on days like World Civet Day
Donate or comply with campaigns like The Civet Project
No. While some firms declare their espresso comes from “wild” civets, most are caged, force-fed espresso cherries, and stay in merciless, cramped situations. Even so-called moral farms typically fail fundamental welfare requirements. If it’s being offered to vacationers, chances are high it’s not moral.
Because it income off animal struggling. Civets in captivity typically develop stress-related diseases, undergo from malnutrition, and die prematurely. This trade additionally fuels wildlife trafficking and threatens already susceptible civet populations.
Technically, sure—however it’s uncommon and almost unattainable to confirm. Most so-called “wild-sourced” kopi luwak is greenwashing. Unless you personally know the farmer and the civets roam free within the wild (not “free-range” in a fenced yard), it’s greatest to steer clear.
Simple take a look at: in the event that they allow you to see, contact, or pose with a civet—it’s unethical. Responsible wildlife tourism doesn’t contain selfies with stressed-out nocturnal animals in sunlight hours.
Say no—and communicate up. Leave a respectful overview, ask the enterprise why they serve it, and report the itemizing if it’s on TripAdvisor, Airbnb Experiences, or Google Maps. Your voice makes a distinction.
Share this text at the moment and assist make #WorldCivetDay development for all the fitting causes. Pin under to Pinterest to assist unfold the phrase
Read extra methods to journey sustainably right here
Travel Planning Resources
Looking to e-book your subsequent journey? Why not use these assets which might be tried and examined by yours really.
Book Your Flights: Start planning your journey by discovering the very best flight offers on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have discovered that they’ve the very best flight offers.
Book your Hotel: Find the very best costs on resorts with these two suppliers. If you’re situated in Europe use Booking.com and in case you are anyplace else use TripAdvisor.
Find Apartment Rentals: You will discover the most cost effective costs on residence leases with VRBO.
Learn a Language: We suggest and love each Rosetta Stone and Babbel.
Travel Insurance: Don’t go away house with out it. Here is what we suggest:
- Safety Wing – Occasional Travelers.
- Medjet – Global air medical transport and journey safety.
Book Your Activities: Looking for strolling excursions, skip-the-line tickets, non-public guides, and extra? Then we suggest Get Your Guide.
Need extra assist planning your journey? Make certain to take a look at our Resources Page the place we spotlight all the good firms that we belief once we are touring.