Three species of civets have been recorded on Sulawesi: the Sulawesi palm civet, Macrogalidia musschenbroekii; the Malay civet, Viverra tangalunga; and the common palm civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Suyanto et al. 1998). The Sulawesi palm civet is a native species while the Malay and the common palm civets were introduced (Musser 1987). These are the only species of the order Carnivora on Sulawesi and very little is known about their ecology, distribution and conservation status (Wemmer & Watling 1986).

During August and September 2000, as part of the Operation Wallacea Biodiversity Survey of Southeast Sulawesi, a live-trapping project for civets was undertaken around Labundo Bundo, Buton Island. This preliminary project confirmed the presence of the Malay civet in this area.

To establish long-term projects to collect data concerning the distribution, habitat requirements, behaviour, and interactions of civet species around Labundo Bundo, Buton Island and other areas of Southeast Sulawesi. These projects will yield information on home range size, habitat use, activity patterns, spatial relationships, movement patterns, rest sites, dispersal movements, breeding characteristics, density estimates, and genetic relationships, of each of the civet species to be found in this region. 

Beginning in June 2001, wire box-traps were set in various locations in the Kakenauwe Forest Reserve. Four Malay civets were captured: one adult male, two adult females and one sub-adult female. Captured animals were immobilised using an anaesthetic drug, radio collared, morphometric measurements and photos were taken, and hair tissue samples collected for DNA analysis. All animals were released unharmed at point of capture and no specimens were collected.  Radio collared civets were radio tracked from June to the beginning of September 2001.

Between 30-40 location fixes were recorded for each radio collared civet. This data will be analysed using the computer program RANGES V to provide home range estimates, movement distances, and spatial relationships. Activity data throughout the day and night was also collected for each individual and will be analysed to determine activity patterns.

An unconfirmed sighting of the Sulawesi palm civet was reported from Base Camp in the Lambusango Forest Reserve. Traps were set up around the camp and on the forest grid but only the Malay civet was caught in these areas.

Data from this project was incorporated into the summary report on civet research produced in 2002. .

Musser, G.G. 1987. The Mammals of Sulawesi. In: Biogeographical Evolution of the Malay Archipelago. Ed. By T.C. Whitmore, pp 74-95. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Suyanto, A., Yoneda, M., Maryanto, I., Maharadatunkamsi & Sugardjito, J. 1998. Checklist of The Mammals of Indonesia. Published by LIPI & JICA, Indonesia.

Wemmer, C. & Watling, D. 1986. Ecology and Status of the Sulawesi Palm Civet Macrogalidia musschenbroekii Schelgel. Biological Conservation, 35: 1-17.