On June 18th, 2024, Cuc Phuong National Park, in collaboration with Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW), achieved a significant milestone by successfully breeding 10 offspring of Owston’s Civets at the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program (CPCP).
This achievement represents the most significant success to date in Owston’s Civet conservation and provides a crucial foundation for the future restoration of their populations in the wild.
The Owston’s Civet (*Chrotogale owstoni*) is a beautiful small carnivorous mammal with high ecological value, but it is extremely rare in the wild. Classified as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of 2016, it is listed as a prioritized species for protection in the IB list of Decree 84/2021/NĐ-CP. Geographically restricted, it is found only in Vietnam, Laos, and a small portion of southern China.
Illegal trafficking for wild meat consumption and the illegal pet trade have severely impacted the wild population of Owston’s Civets. Protecting and restoring this species has become a significant priority in biodiversity conservation efforts in Vietnam and worldwide. In 2019, SVW collaborated with the IUCN and other experts to establish the world’s first conservation strategy dedicated to Owston’s Civets. The strategy aims to establish a healthy and genetically diverse peripheral population, prevent the risk of extinction, and provide animals that meet the standards for restoring populations in the wild ¹.
To achieve these goals, Cuc Phuong National Park and SVW constructed a 1.3-hectare Conservation Breeding Area for Owston’s Civets in early 2023. By the end of 2023, they successfully introduced 4 female and 8 male Owston’s Civets into the breeding area for pairing, resulting in the healthy birth of 10 offspring. This achievement brings hope for the future of this endangered species and underscores the importance of conservation efforts to protect small carnivores like the striped civet.
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Source: Vietnam Insider