Thinking with Civets: The Role of Zoos in the Decolonisation of Animal Tourism.

Civets belong to the family Viverridae, an ancient line of 'cat-like' animals. Despite their large geographic distribution across southeast Asia and parts of Africa, little scientific attention has been attributed to Viverrids or Viverrid-human relations. This paper applies the lens of civets to explore the tensive intersection between animal welfare, conservation, and colonialism within the tourism landscape. Through thinking with civets, this paper brings two forms of animal commodification into dialogue: (1) the management of civets in zoos around the globe and (2) the rising trend in civet coffee production and tourism in Asia. By qualitatively analysing the entanglements between colonialism, animal welfare, and conservation and how each impacts the lives and treatment of civets in tourism, this paper calls for enhanced reflexivity and thus the decolonisation of animal-based tourism. Suggestions are made on how zoos may progress towards the decolonisation of animal tourism, and the argument is made that zoos are well positioned and morally obligated to answer this call. By doing so, greater attention can be given to the animals whose lives are most affected by the global tourism landscape.

Contamination: The Case of Civets, Companionship, COVID, and SARS.

This research explores the intersection between zoonosis and the trade in wild animals by applying the Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) as a lens through which to analyse the ways humans and animals shape, and are shaped by, multi-species entanglements. Civets occupy a unique space within contemporary human-animal relations, as they have become an increasingly popular companion species despite being vectors of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. The 2002 SARS outbreak not only killed 774 humans, but its confirmed species origin instigated the retribution-like public slaughter of an estimated 10,000 civets. Guided by the theory of "contamination", this paper compares human-civet relations during SARS and COVID-19 outbreaks through content analysis of global news media and the social media activity of "Civet Lover" clubs, dedicated social spaces for civet pet keeping enthusiasts. Results show that amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the civet pet trade is thriving with considerable implications for humans and animals. This paper argues for the exotic pet trade to receive greater monitoring and regulation, for compromised animal welfare and health could present the opportunity for further disease emergence.