Civets are called "toddycats" in English and "musang" in Malay. The latter may lead to some confusion as 'musang' also refers to foxes, but civets are more commonly encountered by humans.
Civets have a broadly cat-like general appearance, though the muzzle is extended and often pointed, rather like an otter or a mongoose. They range in length from about 17 to 28 inches (43 to 71 cm) (excluding their long tails) and in weight from about 3 to 10 lbs (1.4 to 4.5 kg).
The civet produces a musk (also called civet) highly valued as a fragrance and stabilising agent for perfume. Both male and female civets produce this strong-smelling secretion, which is produced by the civet's perineal glands. It is harvested by either killing the animal and removing the glands, or scraping the secretions from the glands of a live animal. The latter is the preferred method today.
Animal rights group, such as the World Society for the Protection of Animals, express concern that harvesting musk is cruel to animals. Between these ethical concerns and the availablability of synthetic substitutes, the practice of raising civets for musk is dying out. Chanel, make of the popular Chanel No. 5 claims that the natural civet has been replaced with a synthetic substitute since 1998.
(I HOPE CHANEL ARE CORRECT IN THIS CLAIM AS I DO WEAR NO. 5 WHEN I CAN AFFORD IT AND I DREAD THE IDEA OF USING ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR PAIN TO ANY ANIMAL).
Palm civets often venture into urban and suburban environments, with people often complaining about civet faeces or noise from the animals climbing on roofs. Some studies have been undertaken to examine and mitigate human-animal conflict in these cases.
The Raffles Museum of Diversity at the National University of Singapore has adopted the palm civet as its mascot and volunteers call themselves "Toddycats".
Some of the indigenous people in Peninsular Malaysia, the Orang Asli, may occasionally keep pet civets.
I too hope that the habit of using the poor animals to produce expensive scent is a thing of the past. A bit like fur coats really, I don't think there is any justification for it - except for the original owners of course.
ReplyDeleteI agree that animals have been exploited cruelly over the centuries just to make people look or smell better which in many cases they didn't anyway. Mankind can be very uncaring when it comes to making money.
DeleteThey do look a little cat like don't they? Mimsie....my A to Z post today has an announcement that may be of interest to you.
ReplyDeleteI was out yesterday at a 1st b/day party for g.g/daughter and watched a football match and rested later so will pop over now and check out that interesting A-Z post of yours. I never miss them anyway as they are so wonderful.
DeleteThis is interesting, I always thought civets were related to skunks. And before this, I had never given any thought as to where the musk for perfumes came from. I don't wear perfumes in any case, the good stuff is way beyond my budget and the cheap stuff just doesn't smell nice.
ReplyDeletePerhaps these posts aren't a real waste of time after all as you now know what a civet is like. : ) I am finding out lots of facts too.
ReplyDeleteI am not a perfume wearer as a rule although I do love 4711 which my mum always wore. I have never bought Chanel 5 but will wear it on special occasions if I have some that has been a gift. I use it very sparingly so it lasts a very long time. They are the only 2 perfumes I ever wear as, like you, I don't think much of any of the other cheapies.
I dislike 4711 quite a lot. My mum wore it too, but that isn't why. I simply don't like the smell. It stings my nose. I like a perfume by Estee Lauder (I think) called Beautiful, but it's over $100 for a small bottle, so I don't have any. I used to wear Vanilla Oil from The body Shop, it smelled like sweet things baking, like opening a bottle of Vanilla Extract, but the formula has been changed and now it stings my nose and doesn't smell at all like Vanilla.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame about the 4711 but I do understand one's woman's perfume is another woman's poison!!
ReplyDeleteMy physio had a tiny bottle of Chanel No 5 and game it to me 'cos it smells wrong on her. It is amazing how different perfumes smell differently or affect people differently.
There is a perfume called Charlie that neither my daughter nor I can stand the smell of and I worked with a lass that smothered herself in it. Hay fever wasn't it for me!!!!