Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
The Otter Civet also known as the Sunda Otter Civet is a highly elusive, semi-aquatic mammal native to Southeast Asia. Scientifically known as Cynogale bennettii, these secretive creatures possess a prominent snout and extremely long sensing whiskers. Furthermore, an Otter Civet uses its webbed feet and water-resistant fur to hunt fish and crustaceans at night. Their unique body shape makes them perfectly adapted to their dense, riverine Otter Civet habitat.
However, these beautiful Otter Civets face a severe ongoing threat to their survival in Borneo and Sumatra. Rampant palm oil deforestation rapidly destroys their pristine peatland forests and swamps. Meanwhile, toxic chemical run-off from aggressive gold mining severely pollutes their crucial water sources. Therefore, protecting this endangered aquatic species requires us to challenge destructive mining practices and urgently boycott palm oil.
The elusive and rare #Otter Civet 🦦🩶 lives in the swamps and forests of #Indonesia #Malaysia and #Brunei, now #endangered by #palmoil #deforestation. Support this species’ survival when u #BoycottPalmOIl #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🪔⛔️ 🤮 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/24/otter-civet-cynogale-bennettii/
Resourceful with long sensing whiskers for swamp living, #Otter Civets 🦦 face unprecedented threats from #palmoil and #gold #mining #deforestation on #Borneo. Fight extinction! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔⛔️ #BoycottGold 🥇⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/24/otter-civet-cynogale-bennettii/
More on IUCN Red list: Otter Civet
Red list classification: Endangered
Locations: Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatera); Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak)
Presence Uncertain: Thailand
Key Takeaways
- The otter civet, or Cynogale bennettii, is a semi-aquatic mammal native to Southeast Asia, facing threats due to habitat loss from palm oil deforestation and gold mining pollution.
- It uses its long whiskers and webbed feet to hunt at night, thriving in riverine environments.
- The IUCN lists the otter civet as endangered, with declining numbers and polluted water resources affecting their survival.
- Human-related threats include direct hunting, agricultural runoff, and capture in snares.
- Protecting the otter civet requires urgent action against destructive practices, such as boycotting palm oil and gold.
Table of contents
Geographic range
Little is known of Otter Civet habitat and ecology. The rare civet is likely living in peat swamp forests. However researchers have now discovered them in lowland dipterocarp forest. Nevertheless, otter civets have also been recorded in secondary forest, bamboo, and logged forest. Sadly, their long-term persistence in these habitats is unknown.
Threats
This species of Bornean viverid faces many human-related threats. The Sunda Otter Civet is classed as Endangered because their range has shrunk by about 20%over the past ten years. Meanwhile, their remaining habitat is fragmented and water sources are often polluted by mining.
- Palm oil deforestation: Just like with other otter species and civet species in Africa, Asia and South America – palm oil ecocide is a common threat.
- Gold mining: chemical pollution from gold mining is a threat.
- Agricultural pollution run-off into rivers
- Unintentional capture in hunting snares: Researchers have found that this species is not hunted directly but may unintentionally be killed in traps.
You can support this beautiful animal
There are no known conservation activities for this animal. Share out this post to social media and join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife on social media to raise awareness
Further Information
Ross, J., Wilting, A., Ngoprasert, D., Loken, B., Hedges, L., Duckworth, J.W., Cheyne, S., Brodie, J., Chutipong, W., Hearn, A., Linkie, M., McCarthy, J., Tantipisanuh, N. & Haidir, I.A. 2015. Cynogale bennettii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T6082A45197343. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T6082A45197343.en. Downloaded on 24 January 2021.
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