Luak coffee — coffee made from beans eaten and excreted by the luak (an animal also known as the palm civet) — is becoming more popular, something that’s been happening at least since 1995, the year the foodstuff was the subject of an Ig Nobel Prize. The popularity is increasing demand for the animal, which is a big problem, says this recent study:
“Observations of small carnivores in Jakarta wildlife markets, Indonesia, with notes on trade in Javan Ferret Badger Melogale orientalis and on the increasing demand for Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus for civet coffee production,” Chris R. Shepherd, Small Carnivore Conservation, vol. 47, December 2012, pp. 38–41. The author, at TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Selangor, Malaysia, writes:
“Six species of small carnivores were recorded during spot checks carried out in wildlife markets in Jakarta, Java, Indonesia, in 2010 and 2012, including Javan Ferret Badger Melogale orientalis, a little-known species rarely observed in trade. Most numerous was Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus,which is increasingly being taken from the wild for the production of kopi luwak (‘civet coffee’).”
Here’s detail from the study:
BONUS: Mongabay.com gives their view on the matter.
<http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0416-hance-kopi-luwak.html#TQat0khiPKe6HJ6A.99>