African civet
Scientific name: Civettictis civetta
IUCN listed as: Least Concern
Learn before you visit!
Here are some facts about the species – Discover what they eat, find out about their natural habitat, see what they like to do, and more… Set the reading style to suit you too, everyday speak or something aimed towards children.
Child-friendly
Everyday
Diet
African Civets are omnivorous animals, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their diet includes fruits, berries, insects, small mammals, birds, eggs, and even carrion (dead animals). They have excellent hunting skills and are known to climb trees in search of food. Their keen sense of smell helps them locate prey and ripe fruits.
African Civets eat a mix of plants and animals, like fruits, bugs, small animals, and even things that are already dead. They’re good at climbing trees to find food and have a super sense of smell to help them find yummy things.
Breeding
African Civets typically give birth to litters of one to four young after a gestation period of about two months. The young civets are born blind and helpless, relying entirely on their mother for protection and nourishment. They are weaned at around two months old but may stay with their mother for up to a year before becoming independent.
When African Civets have babies, they usually have between one to four at a time. Baby civets are born blind and need their moms to protect them and give them food. They drink milk for a couple of months and stay with mom for about a year before they go off on their own.
Habitat
African Civets are found in a variety of habitats across sub-Saharan Africa, including forests, savannas, and grasslands. They prefer areas with dense vegetation and access to water sources. They are nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active during the night when they hunt for food and avoid predators.
African Civets live in lots of places in Africa, like forests and grassy fields. They like spots with lots of plants and water nearby. At night, they’re awake and busy looking for food and staying safe from animals that might want to catch them.
At the zoo
In zoos, African Civets are housed in enclosures that mimic their natural habitat. They are fed a diet of fruits, vegetables, meat, and insects to meet their nutritional needs. Visitors can observe their nocturnal behaviour and agile movements, as well as learn about their role in ecosystems. Some zoos participate in breeding programs to help maintain captive populations.
In zoos, African Civets live in habitats that look like their homes in Africa. They eat fruits, veggies, meat, and bugs to stay healthy. You can see them moving around at night and learn about how they live in the wild.
Behaviour
African Civets are solitary and territorial animals, marking their territories with scent glands located under their tails. They are agile climbers and spend much of their time in trees, where they search for food and rest. They are also known for their distinct musky odour, which helps them communicate with other civets and identify individuals.
African Civets like to be alone and have their own space. They mark their territory with smelly stuff under their tails. They’re great climbers and spend a lot of time in trees, where they find food and take naps. They also have a unique smell that helps them talk to other civets.
Fun facts
- Musk Masters: African Civets have a musky smell that helps them communicate and mark their territory.
- Night Owls: They are active at night, making them nocturnal animals.
- Fruit Fans: They enjoy eating fruits, especially ripe ones they can smell from afar.
- Tree Huggers: Civets are excellent climbers and spend much of their time in trees.
- Varied Diet: They have a diverse diet that includes insects, small mammals, and even carrion.
- Stinky Communicators: African Civets have a smelly way of talking to each other and saying, “This is my place!”
- Nighttime Ninjas: They like to come out at night and do all their exploring and eating when it’s dark.
- Fruit Detectives: Civets can sniff out ripe fruits from far away and love to munch on them.
- Top Tree Climbers: They’re awesome at climbing trees and spend a lot of time hanging out up there.
- Eat Anything: They’re not picky eaters—they’ll try bugs, small animals, and even things that aren’t alive anymore.
More animals to discover at our zoo
Quick Links
Tickets & Prices
You can buy tickets for Exmoor Zoo securely online, as well as finding out more price options, discover offers, and more…
What’s on…
Exmoor Zoo hosts incredible Events all through the year. You can find out about what we’ve got in store here…
Routes & info
Like any great discovery, Exmoor Zoo can feel a little off the beaten path – but don’t worry – you can plan your journey with our recommended routes and other useful travel info.
