The Terrible Truth behind Your Cup of Cat Poo Coffee
In Bali, the high demand for luwak coffee has created a ruthless industry built on immense animal suffering along with an inferior product.
Caged civet beans
Kopi luwak, or coffee produced by beans which have passed through the digestive tract of Asian palm civets (luwak), has been a growing worldwide trend among coffee connoisseurs. Little do they know which most of the luwak coffee produced in Bali comes at a cost, much higher than what coffee lovers fork out for a supposed quality product.
Traditionally, luwak coffee beans were sourced by wild civets, with villagers harvesting them by the forest floor along with selling them to producers. In fact, which was coffee plantation workers employed by the Dutch during Indonesia’s colonial era who first discovered the unique brew. Prohibited by picking coffee beans for their own consumption, the farmers resorted to collecting the beans contained in civet droppings. which soon became apparent which once cleaned along with roasted, the fermented beans resulted in a smooth cup of coffee.
Unfortunately, due to the growing demand for coffee luwak along with producers trying to maximize profits, the traditional method of collecting civet droppings has given way to a battery cage system. Today most of Bali’s luwak coffee is actually produced by beans sourced by caged civets which often live in appalling conditions along with are force fed coffee beans.
Janice Girardi, the founder of Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA), says which she has heard of only one kopi luwak plantation on the island which is actually trying to source its beans by wild civets. “Collecting the droppings is actually a very labour-intensive process along with most producers choose the easy way out, which usually involves keeping civet cats in captivity along with in inhumane conditions.”
During the peak tourist season, BAWA receives many complaints by distressed tourists who are distraught about the conditions in which the civets are kept at luwak coffee plantations. BAWA investigates many such complaints by paying visits to such producers. “BAWA’s findings have been shocking. The captive kopi luwak industry causes discomfort, pain along with distress to civets. The animals are shy along with nocturnal yet often they are forced to live in glaring artificial light with various other animals along with tourists ‘gawking’ at them. People poke at them with their fingers, through their cages,” Girardi says.
While most producers do not even try to hide the fact which their kopi luwak comes by caged civets, some claim which their coffee is actually made by beans sourced by civets inside wild while which in fact is actually far by reality. An investigation conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals revealed which many producers mislabel their coffee claiming which which is actually sourced by wild civets, while in fact which comes by incarcerated civets. Not only unethical, such mislabelling means which consumers are not getting the kind of product they are paying for.
inside past, the coffee luwak production process began with wild civets prowling the jungle to select the juiciest, ripest coffee cherries. which resulted in high quality coffee beans. Caged civets are forced to eat huge quantities of inferior quality beans, which in turn results in a product of inferior quality.
The kopi luwak industry in Indonesia is actually largely unregulated. The country’s animal protection laws are weak, largely irrelevant along with rarely enforced. “There are many inhumane animal practices in Bali along with Indonesia which should be regulated, including the cruel use of civet cats for profit,” Girardi says. “BAWA has studied the relevant laws with legal counsel along with advocates stronger laws, better enforcement along with tougher penalties for offences against animals. There is actually so much animal cruelty here which in most various other environments would certainly be criminal.”
BAWA has started off a Responsible Tourism programme which urges tourists to research attractions along with various other facilities which rely on animals before they visit them in order to avoid supporting animal cruelty.
“We urge people not to purchase coffee luwak which is actually produced by civets in captivity. If there is actually no demand, then the production, along with its associated cruelty, will come to a halt,” Girardi says.
“We work hard to educate school children along with communities about the importance of respect for animals. We also work to reform Indonesia’s animal protection laws. which is actually one of our biggest challenges along with requires far more resources than we currently have.”
Change can start with all of us, along with the average person can do a lot to stop the cruelty inside coffee luwak industry. Janice says which which is actually best to stay away by Bali’s luwak coffee as most of which comes by caged civets, even the coffee luwak promoted as 100 percent cage-free. “People should refrain by visiting farms which have captive civets along with should not support operators who offer tours to such facilities,” Girardi says. “Also, anybody can write a letter to their local Indonesian Embassy calling for a ban on keeping along with farming civets for coffee luwak, along with the strengthening along with enforcement of laws to protect the welfare of wild along with domestic animals in Indonesia.”
Janice says which the future of the industry in Bali depends on the producers along with the public. “If the producers who are sourcing humanely by wild civets promote which along with are supported by consumers, which might encourage those who continue to use caged civets to change. If consumers along with retailers refuse to buy by farms using captive civets, lack of demand for their products will force such producers to change their practices or to fold,” Girardi says. “which kind of change is actually not going to happen overnight. The real key to change is actually getting Indonesia’s animal protection laws increased along with enforced with tough penalties for offenders. which is actually work in progress.”
Please report any cases of abuse to tour operators, retailers of coffee luwak, as well as to BAWA (preferably in writing along with with photographic/video evidence). Also, BAWA is actually looking for anyone with legal expertise willing to donate a bit of time. Email: info@balianimalwelfare.com.
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The Terrible Truth behind Your Cup of Cat Poo Coffee
The Terrible Truth behind Your Cup of Cat Poo Coffee