Kopi Luwak unusual process contributed to its rarity and subsequently, its high price. More recently, growing numbers of intensive civet "farms" have been established and operated across Southeast Asia, confining tens of thousands of animals to live in battery cages and be force-fed. Concerns were raised over the safety of civet coffee after evidence suggested that the SARS virus originated from palm civets. '"The conditions are awful, much like battery chickens", said Chris Shepherd, deputy regional director of the conservation NGO, TRAFFIC south-east Asia. "The civets are taken from the wild and have to endure horrific conditions. They fight to stay together
Otter civet be responsible for the current rarity of the otter civet. "Cynogale bennettii" is listed in CITES Appendix II. Otter civet The otter civet ("Cynogale bennettii") is a semiaquatic civet native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. It is listed as "Endangered" because of a serious ongoing population decline, estimated to be more than 50% over the past three generations (estimated to be 15 years), inferred from direct habitat destruction, and indirect inferred declines due to pollutants. "Cynogale" is a monospecific genus. The otter civet possesses several adaptations to its habitat, including a broad mouth and webbed feet with naked soles