BY STAFF REPORTER
Civet musk is a foul smelling scent produced by the anal glands of the male civet cat, this is because males produce larger quantity and better quality musk than females. Musk is collected using a spoon made from cow horn every 11-12 days during the rainy season and 9-10 days during dry season, therefore, a civet will yield about 300-400g musk a year.
Civet musk is an important export commodity for Ethiopia as it produces 90 per cent of the world’s total. Ethiopia has a worldwide monopoly for civet musk production and annually exports about 2,000kg of musk. This civet is exported to Europe and the United States for perfumery. The existing export of musk only covers 22 percent of the international demand and civet cat farming is identified among potential investment opportunities in Ethiopia, for example it was noted that one established farm in Ethiopia has claimed for having 400 civets; even though, 50 percent of the farmers giving up musk production due to demand and price fluctuations.
In Ethiopia’s early history, civet musk was expensive and even used as currency. Civet musk was valued above ivory, gold or myrrh. Traditionally it was used as a medicine for various ailments and taken in tea and coffee.
Poncet, the French traveller who arrived in Gondar, the former Ethiopian capital, in the 17th Century noted that Enfranz was an important town for civet farming or civiculture. Civets were kept in captivity here and their secretions collected weekly. Before his arrival at Gondar, Poncet had witnessed civet musk being traded alongside ivory, tamarind and gold.
Chronicles of Napoleon Bonaparte’s 18th Century expedition to Egypt as well as accounts of other expeditions of that period refer to the civet musk trade. In 1872 Anatolia Cheche visited the area now known as Illubabor in Ethiopia and noted that the King of Jimma, Aba Jifar Abagambo, had set aside an area in his palace for civiculture.
The volume of civet musk secreted is related to the size of the animal. Hillman (1992) reports that a large male can produce up to 6.4 grams of civet musk every 5 days – approximately 32 grams per animal per month. A smaller male can produce 3.4 grams every 5 days. A census of civiculture undertaken by the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organisation in 1997 found 174 farms housing 2,617 African civets. A similar census carried out by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) a year later found 203 farms housing 3,037 animals. Unfortunately the census also uncovered widespread animal cruelty and a lack of knowledge on the numbers of African civets living in the wild.
The WSPA report was taken up by the Ethiopian Government and several subsequent government reports, especially those of the EWCO, confirmed the existence of animal cruelty and recommended actions to improve the situation. However, the civet musk industry has been slow to implement these recommendations.
To identify the main problems affecting the industry it is useful to examine the situation in relation to the various stakeholders and the socio-economic environment in which it operates.
Farmers have preserved the traditions and cultures surrounding civiculture for hundreds of years. Traditionally, a farm with 100 animals would require at least four farm workers in order to provide the animals with the appropriate level of care: Two women were needed to grind corn and prepare food while two men had the responsibility of collecting musk (Pankhurst 1968). Civiculture is a family affair and is subjected to numerous traditional beliefs and superstitions. One belief limits the number of individuals that have direct contact with the animals for fear of limiting the amount of civet musk secreted. This belief has made it difficult for government officials and other authorised people to control and monitor civiculture.
Civiculture brings in revenue for the Ethiopian government and it is the responsibility of the government to support the farmers if changes in husbandry practices are called for. However, altering practices is a challenge though this must be attempted if the level of animal welfare is to be raised.
There are a total of five civet musk exporters in the country who are licensed by the government though the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organisation. In addition to paying license fees, exporters are also required to pay fees for quality control and per kilogram of exported musk. Licenses are renewed annually.
Exporters fix prices by observing musk colour noting its odour. In some instances will exporters taste the musk to determine if it has been mixed other substances. Ethiopian exporters have an impact on the global price of civet musk. During their census WSPA found that exporters operate alone. However, the opportunity to create a cartel and fix prices exists.
A significant majority of the country’s civet musk is exported to different countries especially to France. One kilogram of musk can produce 3000 litres of good quality perfume. With the demand for civet musk growing yearly Ethiopia should be increasing its output as it has the capacity to produce approximately 6000kg of civet musk annually. Unfortunately only approximately 1000kg is produced and in most cases this musk is classified as impure.
Demands for a synthetic alternative have been growing in recent years. The British Fragrance Association (BFA) and the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) are of the opinion that perfume industries are more likely to use artificial musk.
It would be wrong to alienate the various processes involved in the production, export and use of civet musk. The egg model described by Prescott-Allen (1996), is a good example where the human system and the ecosystem are seen as an order, where the good or bad of one affects the other. The Prescott-Allens (1996) describe that assessments need a systematic. A systematic approach to assessing the sustainability of the use of wild species has been adopted by the IUCN SSC Sustainable Use Specialist Group.
In defining the sense of direction, we have to determine to what extent the use system is impacting on human and ecosystem wellbeing: Is the impact positive or negative? This can be done by looking at the ecosystem and the human dimension using different parameters and assessing the impact of the use on each issue.
Impact of the use on ecosystems can be assessed on whether it is maintaining or depleting the naturalness, quality, diversity and resource base of an area.
The Ethiopian Herald July 24/2021
