Rare Sighting: Brown Palm Civet Spotted In Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary

Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is a haven for a rich variety of flora and fauna. Over the years, numerous rare species of plants and animals have been observed here. Recently, the Discover Koyna group, renowned for their discoveries of rare owls and butterflies, observed a rare brown palm civet in the sanctuary.

Brown palm civets, also known as Jerdon’s palm civets, are endemic to the Western Ghats and play a vital ecological role as seed dispersers. In regions where other large seed dispersers are absent or rare due to human activities, these civets help promote the growth of native rainforests.

In a 2021 paper titled “Phenotypic Variations, Habitat Suitability, and Diel Activity of the Endemic Brown Palm Civets,” published in the journal Geology, Ecology, and Landscapes, researchers documented that the brown palm civet inhabits a total suitable area of 21,853 sq km in the Western Ghats. The civets were recorded in four distinct blocks: in the south from Kalakkad to Anamalai, and in the north in the Nilgiris, Bhadra, and Sayadri regions. This study was a collaboration between the Wildlife Institute of India, Sreehari Raman (a small mammal expert and assistant professor from the College of Forestry, Kerala Agriculture University), and forest officials from the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

The researchers noted that the brown palm civet primarily resides in the Anamalai, Periyar, Parambikulam, Kalakkad Mundanthurai, and Meghamalai Tiger Reserves; the Kodaikanal and Munnar forest divisions; and Srivilliputhur. These protected areas account for a significant portion of the civet’s habitat. The second-most important block is in the Nilgiris, which includes the Silent Valley and Mukurthi National Parks, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Mudumalai, Nagarhole, Bandipur, and Biligiri Ranganatha Tiger Reserves.

Brown palm civets are solitary and nocturnal creatures. During the day, they rest in various locations such as tree hollows, canopy vine tangles, Indian giant squirrel nests, and branch forks. These day-bed trees are typically large and located in dense, mature forest stands with high canopy connectivity. Occasionally, civets may rest on open branches during the night.