At first I didn't recognize these animals, but compared them to a local weasel called Akasama. When they exclaimed that it becomes as large as a dog I just couldn't believe it! Maybe it is a ferret, or another animal similar to a skunk.
I did some research and even called my buddy, Fred in Lusaka who runs the Munda Wanga Wildlife Sanctuary and sent him a few pictures of the thing. The next day he wrote and said it was a Civet. I immediately went to Google to confirm this answer, and he was right.
Fred connected me to a woman in Zimbabwe, Lisa Hywood who runs a trust for animals and who has experience in raising Civets. Today I got an email from her with instructions on how to make a formula and the amount of times they need to be fed. I was very happy for this and started right away with this program.
The formula is 120mls.-long life full cream milk in a box, 3 tablespoons-full cream powdered milk, children's multi vitamin and minerals.
I feed them five times a day. 6 AM, 10 AM, 2 PM, 6 PM and 10 PM. One is a bit bigger then the other so the amounts will be different. The big one (currently weighing 415 g.) will be getting 10-14 ml. (2-3 teaspoons) at a feeding, and the smaller one (at 250 g.) 6-8 ml. (1 1/2 teaspoons) per feeding.
They have no teeth and make a squealing noise throughout the day. A noise that is equivalently aggravating to a baby's cry.
They have many small fleas so she suggested Johnson's Baby powder, Savlon or Dettol for a temporary control until I get Frontline which is the best.
While feeding these creatures they paw me with their bear like feet and hands!
Their coat is soft and beautiful, a thing that contributes to their soon extinction
An interesting fact about the Civet is that it helps to give us the most expensive cup of coffee in the world. $50 a cup! How? You feed them ripe coffee beans, wait a few hours for them to digest and excrete, collect, roast over a fire, grind and drink. The taste is supposed to be the best ever. Like coffee but without the bitterness, thick, a bit oily, and smooth.
