Kerala is facing an unusual crisis a surge in civet encounters that has disrupted homes, official residences, and even courtrooms. What many dismiss as a nuisance is in fact a symptom of shrinking forests and flawed urban planning.
Earlier this week proceedings at the Kerala High Court were cut short after the courtroom filled with the stench of civet urine. A nocturnal Asian palm civet had slipped into the rafters overnight, forcing staff to scrub ducts before hearings could resume. For lawyers, it was a bizarre inconvenience, but for citizens across the state, civet disturbances have become routine.
From faint scuttles above tiled roofs to sudden thuds and the pungent seepage of urine through ceilings civets have made their presence felt everywhere including the residences of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition leaders. Even Raj Bhavan was not spared, with former governor Arif Mohammed Khan temporarily moving out after nights of sleepless civet fights.
From Heritage Homes to High-Rise Ducts
The government recently allocated ₹49 lakh to “civet-proof” VIP residences, replacing wooden lofts and tiled roofs with concrete slabs. But conservationists warn that such fixes only mask the larger crisis: fragmented forests are pushing civets into human spaces. Once dependent on dense tree cover, these fruit-eating mammals now nest in air ducts, false ceilings, and even apartment balconies.
Though civets weigh barely 3-4 kilograms and play a vital role in seed dispersal, folklore has long demonised them as child snatchers or symbols of bad luck. This stigma often leads to their mistreatment, despite their status as a protected species.
Ecological Allies or Urban Pests?
Experts caution against viewing civets only as troublemakers. In the wild, their droppings contribute to the world’s most expensive coffee, Kopi Luwak. In Kerala however, they are hounded from rooftops with sticks. Conservationist Thomas Lawrence argues that trapping and releasing civets provides only temporary relief. “The real solution lies in restoring green corridors and habitats,” he said.
As Kerala forests continue to shrink, civets have adapted with resilience, shifting from traditional homes to concrete apartments and high-rise ducts. Their persistence is a stark reminder of how habitat loss drives wildlife into human settlements.
For now civets remain Kerala restless night companions, scratching through the silence and forcing even the state most powerful leaders to confront an ecological imbalance that can no longer be ignored.