HONG KONG MAMMALS
15
There are three local civets. The largest is the five-banded or large Indian civet Viverra zibetha, now very rare. The second is the seven-banded or small Indian civet Viverricula indica which is fairly common, like the third, the masked palm civet Paguma larvata.
All civets are protected by law but unfortunately the law is not enforced. They are all solitary, nocturnal, silent and agile hunters. They hunt rats and insect pests. They also eat wild fruit and berries. The masked palm civet, unlike the other two, spends much of its time in trees. It has no spots or stripes on its body except for a white blaze on its face. Unlike many small carnivores it prefers rats and insects to birds, and does not raid domestic chickens. The five- and seven-banded civets have hooped tails with five and seven hoops respectively. In both, the rest of the body is striped and spotted.
The seven-banded civet is the most carnivorous of the three. It is also the most sought after for eating, as the flesh is better than that of the other two.
Five- and seven-banded civets are bred in India for their "civet", a secretion of the anal glands which can be collected at intervals with a special spoon. "Civet" has clinging properties and is used widely in the perfume industry. If annoyed the civet cat ejects this anal fluid, in the same way as its close relative the skunk. The masked palm civet also produces an anal secretion but its smell is extremely unpleasant.
Artiodactyla
There are two resident members of the order Artiodactyla in Hong Kong, discounting domestic cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The first is the wild boar and the second the muntjak or barking deer which were both once plentiful. Wild boar are now reduced to one or two families and possibly even these have now disappeared. The deer are reduced to small pockets in the New Territories and those on Hong Kong Island. They are all subject to illegal shooting and trapping. At $500 each on the black market even those on Hong Kong Island are not safe, particularly as the maximum fine for poaching (which has never yet been enforced), is $500. A $2,000 fine would be more realistic. Wire snares, bamboo spike traps and nets are used successfully wherever these deer are to be found. To arrest the poachers takes
HONG KONG MAMMALS
15
There are three local civets. The largest is the five-banded or large Indian civet Viverra zibetha, now very rare. The second is the seven-banded or small Indian civet Viverricula indica which is fairly common, like the third, the masked palm civet Paguma larvata,
All civets are protected by law but unfortunately the law is not enforced. They are all solitary, nocturnal, silent and agile hunters. They hunt rats and insect pests. They also eat wild fruit and berries. The masked palm civet, unlike the other two, spends much of its time in trees. It has no spots or stripes on its body except for a white blaze on its face. Unlike many small carnivores it prefers rats and insects to birds, and does not raid domestic chickens. The five- and seven-banded civets have hooped tails with five and seven hoops respectively. In both, the rest of the body is striped and spotted.
The seven-banded civet is the most carnivorous of the three. It is also the most sought after for eating, as the flesh is better than that of the other two.
Five- and seven-banded civets are bred in India for their "civet”, a secretion of the anal glands which can be collected at intervals with a special spoon. "Civet" has clinging properties and is used widely in the perfume industry. If annoyed the civet cat ejects this anal fluid, in the same way as its close relative the skunk. The masked palm civet also produces an anal secretion but its smell is extremely unpleasant.
Artiodactyla
There are two resident members of the order artiodactyla in Hong Kong, discounting domestic cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The first is the wild boar and the second the muntjak or barking deer which were both once plentiful. Wild boar are now reduced to one or two families and possibly even these have now disappeared. The deer are reduced to small pockets in the New Territories and those on Hong Kong Island. They are all subject to illegal shooting and trapping. At $500 each on the black market even those on Hong Kong Island are not safe, particularly as the maximum fine for poaching (which has never yet been enforced), is $500. A $2,000 fine would be more realistic. Wire snares, bamboo spike traps and nets are used successfully wher- ever these deer are to be found. To arrest the poachers takes
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