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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Civet cat coffee's animal cruelty secrets | Civet cat coffee's animal cruelty secrets |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Animal cruelty during the production of one of the world's priciest coffees has been exposed by a BBC investigation. | Animal cruelty during the production of one of the world's priciest coffees has been exposed by a BBC investigation. |
| Kopi luwak is made from coffee beans excreted by Indonesian palm civets - small, mongoose-like creatures. | Kopi luwak is made from coffee beans excreted by Indonesian palm civets - small, mongoose-like creatures. |
| But undercover reporters in Indonesia witnessed civets held in battery-cage conditions to produce the coffee. | But undercover reporters in Indonesia witnessed civets held in battery-cage conditions to produce the coffee. |
| And experts say they are "totally convinced" kopi luwak from caged animals ends up on the London market. | And experts say they are "totally convinced" kopi luwak from caged animals ends up on the London market. |
| Kopi luwak has surged in popularity, featuring on the Oprah Winfrey Show and in the 2007 film The Bucket List. | Kopi luwak has surged in popularity, featuring on the Oprah Winfrey Show and in the 2007 film The Bucket List. |
| Many retailers sell the product as "wild", sourced in the jungle from the droppings of free-roaming animals. | Many retailers sell the product as "wild", sourced in the jungle from the droppings of free-roaming animals. |
| In restaurants its price can reach £60 per cup, with claims of wild origin attracting the premium. | In restaurants its price can reach £60 per cup, with claims of wild origin attracting the premium. |
| Posing as buyers, the BBC visited farmers in Sumatra, Indonesia. | Posing as buyers, the BBC visited farmers in Sumatra, Indonesia. |
| Reporters witnessed battery-style conditions, animals in cramped cages and a severely injured civet cat, contradicting the "wild" claims marketed to consumers. | Reporters witnessed battery-style conditions, animals in cramped cages and a severely injured civet cat, contradicting the "wild" claims marketed to consumers. |
| Farmers in Takengon, north Sumatra, told the BBC they supplied to exporters whose produce ends up in Europe and Asia. | Farmers in Takengon, north Sumatra, told the BBC they supplied to exporters whose produce ends up in Europe and Asia. |
| After viewing secretly recorded footage of caged civet cats, Dr Neil D'Cruze, of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, said they appeared "absolutely depressed and miserable". | After viewing secretly recorded footage of caged civet cats, Dr Neil D'Cruze, of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, said they appeared "absolutely depressed and miserable". |
| He continued: "These wild animals have behaviours they need and want to express. | He continued: "These wild animals have behaviours they need and want to express. |
| "The cages are completely barren, they're filthy, there's nowhere to climb." | "The cages are completely barren, they're filthy, there's nowhere to climb." |
| Tony Wild, former coffee trader and author of 'Coffee: A Dark History', said he is "totally convinced" caged produce ends up being sold in London. | Tony Wild, former coffee trader and author of 'Coffee: A Dark History', said he is "totally convinced" caged produce ends up being sold in London. |
| He believes marketing kopi luwak as "wild" is often misleading. | He believes marketing kopi luwak as "wild" is often misleading. |
| Mr Wild explained: "The whole reason everybody regurgitates that story is that by being incredibly rare, you can keep a ridiculously high price." | Mr Wild explained: "The whole reason everybody regurgitates that story is that by being incredibly rare, you can keep a ridiculously high price." |
| 'Cannot control it' | 'Cannot control it' |
| While undercover in Takengon, the BBC met battery-style farmers who claimed to sell kopi luwak to Sari Makmur - an Indonesian export company based in Medan - for use in its 'Wild Luwak' coffee product. | While undercover in Takengon, the BBC met battery-style farmers who claimed to sell kopi luwak to Sari Makmur - an Indonesian export company based in Medan - for use in its 'Wild Luwak' coffee product. |
| But Sari Makmur's vice president, Andry Spranoto, admitted to undercover BBC reporters the contents of 'Wild Luwak' cannot be controlled. | But Sari Makmur's vice president, Andry Spranoto, admitted to undercover BBC reporters the contents of 'Wild Luwak' cannot be controlled. |
| The firm explained it asked farmers whether it was wild and the farmers said that it was, but it did not check. | The firm explained it asked farmers whether it was wild and the farmers said that it was, but it did not check. |
| "Frankly speaking, we are not keen on selling this Wild Luwak, as we cannot control it," Mr Spranoto admitted. | "Frankly speaking, we are not keen on selling this Wild Luwak, as we cannot control it," Mr Spranoto admitted. |
| Posing as traders, undercover researchers toured the firm's estate near Sidikalang, where it was claimed coffee beans were sourced from free-roaming civets in the jungle. | Posing as traders, undercover researchers toured the firm's estate near Sidikalang, where it was claimed coffee beans were sourced from free-roaming civets in the jungle. |
| Sari Makmur's Wahana estate operation is unconnected to the civet farms or cruelty witnessed by the BBC in Sumatra. | Sari Makmur's Wahana estate operation is unconnected to the civet farms or cruelty witnessed by the BBC in Sumatra. |
| The premium coffee product from the estate - named 'Wahana Luwak' - is sold as "wild" by luxury department store Harrods. | The premium coffee product from the estate - named 'Wahana Luwak' - is sold as "wild" by luxury department store Harrods. |
| It reaches the Knightsbridge store via a chain consisting of an independent importer and another supplier. | It reaches the Knightsbridge store via a chain consisting of an independent importer and another supplier. |
| Mr Spranoto, said of Wahana Luwak: "It's wild, of course it's wild, but the coffee is coming 100% from Wahana because we can trace it." | Mr Spranoto, said of Wahana Luwak: "It's wild, of course it's wild, but the coffee is coming 100% from Wahana because we can trace it." |
| He assured undercover reporters there were no enclosed civets on the Wahana estate and a breeding programme ended in 2007. | He assured undercover reporters there were no enclosed civets on the Wahana estate and a breeding programme ended in 2007. |
| The BBC also contacted two UK importers of Sari Makmur's coffee, who confirmed they visited the farm in 2011 but had not been shown enclosed civets. | The BBC also contacted two UK importers of Sari Makmur's coffee, who confirmed they visited the farm in 2011 but had not been shown enclosed civets. |
| But a worker from the estate, who asked not to be identified, revealed the presence of enclosed civet cats on the estate. He claimed they were treated well. | But a worker from the estate, who asked not to be identified, revealed the presence of enclosed civet cats on the estate. He claimed they were treated well. |
| Cement floor | Cement floor |
| "We put each luwak in their own space," said the worker. "The space is two by one-and-a-half meters and the cement floor is cleaned, hosed every day." | "We put each luwak in their own space," said the worker. "The space is two by one-and-a-half meters and the cement floor is cleaned, hosed every day." |
| There is no suggestion of animal cruelty on the estate. | There is no suggestion of animal cruelty on the estate. |
| When the BBC later approached Sari Makmur with its findings, the company confirmed the presence of enclosed cats but insisted coffee from caged animals is not sold. | When the BBC later approached Sari Makmur with its findings, the company confirmed the presence of enclosed cats but insisted coffee from caged animals is not sold. |
| It claimed produce for sale came entirely from "wild" animals. | It claimed produce for sale came entirely from "wild" animals. |
| The company said in a statement: "We place wood houses and fruits in the vicinity to attract the wild civet cats to roam around our Wahana farm in order to produce this coffee. | The company said in a statement: "We place wood houses and fruits in the vicinity to attract the wild civet cats to roam around our Wahana farm in order to produce this coffee. |
| "In our caged civet cats programme, we study the animal behaviour, diet and its breeding behaviour. | "In our caged civet cats programme, we study the animal behaviour, diet and its breeding behaviour. |
| "In order to sustain or meet the demand for this market, we breed our own civet cats and then release them in our farm when they are mature enough." | "In order to sustain or meet the demand for this market, we breed our own civet cats and then release them in our farm when they are mature enough." |
| It added: "We do not sell any of the coffee beans from the caged luwak as it is against our business model." | It added: "We do not sell any of the coffee beans from the caged luwak as it is against our business model." |
| The BBC asked Harrods whether it was concerned the company appeared to keep caged civets out of sight of Western visitors. | The BBC asked Harrods whether it was concerned the company appeared to keep caged civets out of sight of Western visitors. |
| A Harrods spokeswoman said: "Harrods works closely with all its suppliers to ensure the highest standards of ethical sourcing, production and trade are maintained. This is carried out through strict auditing procedures. | A Harrods spokeswoman said: "Harrods works closely with all its suppliers to ensure the highest standards of ethical sourcing, production and trade are maintained. This is carried out through strict auditing procedures. |
| "Our exclusive supplier… has given Harrods every assurance the coffee we are provided with is organic, and comes from wild palm civets." | "Our exclusive supplier… has given Harrods every assurance the coffee we are provided with is organic, and comes from wild palm civets." |
| Harrods said it was working with its supplier to investigate claims made in the BBC report. | Harrods said it was working with its supplier to investigate claims made in the BBC report. |
| The spokeswoman added: "If necessary, we will review the sale of this product." | The spokeswoman added: "If necessary, we will review the sale of this product." |
| Sari Makmur's Wild Luwak product - the content of which Mr Spranoto admitted was "uncontrolled" - is not on sale at Harrods. | Sari Makmur's Wild Luwak product - the content of which Mr Spranoto admitted was "uncontrolled" - is not on sale at Harrods. |
| You can watch the full report on Our World on the BBC News Channel at 05:30 and 21:30 BST on 14 September and on Inside Out London on BBC One on 16 September at 19:30 BST. |