Golden Palm Civet

The Golden Palm Civet (paradoxurus zeylonensis) is the only endemic species in Sri Lanka from the Viverridae or the Civet Family belonging to the Carnivora Order. It is called Pani Uguduwa, Ran Hothambuwa or Sapumal Kalawadda in Sinhala and Maram Nai in Tamil. However the Asian Palm Civet and the Golden Palm Civet are sometimes collectively referred to as Kalawedda. Golden Palm Civets are featured on the 3 rupee Sri Lankan postage stamp however, on the stamp they are named as the Golden Palm Cat.

Characteristics

It is a smallish civet and has a coat that is either light brown or dark brown in color. Despite its name, the golden palm civet is not necessarily golden in colour: there are both golden and dark-brown morphs. The fur of the golden species is genuinely golden, from a beautiful bright red-gold to a more faded and brownish golden tone, whereas individuals of the brown morph vary from dark grayish brown to nearly black. The hair on the back of its neck grows reverse grain, from the shoulders toward the head. A fully grown mature individual is about 95 centimeters long.

Behaviour and Habitat

Like other palm civets, they are nocturnal, and arboreal. They spend the day sleeping in large hollow tree branches. They are solitary except throughout the mating season and at some stage when the offspring are being raised. Reproduction occurs in the latter months of the year, and it is presumed that females give birth to more that one litter with two or three young annually. They are spread throughout the country and have been recorded in all three biotic zones but can be found especially in the rainforests of such as Singharaja and Wasgamuwa. Being omnivorous their diet consists of a vast variety of food ranging from fruits like bananas and mangos to small birds, lizards, frogs and bantam mammals like rats.

Threats and Conservation

Apart from being endemic the species is also endangered and has been listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The populations of these species are rapidly decreasing mainly due to deforestation leading to the destruction of their habitat, as well as hunting and poaching. In response to the grave threat of the extinction of the Golden Palm Civet the national zoological gardens of Sri Lanka initiated a breeding and conservation program in 2005. The Fauna and Flora Ordinance carries heavy penalties for the killing of endemic species which includes the civet.