Civet found on 14th floor balcony of East Coast condo, Acres uses umbrellas in rescue attempt

In November 2024, the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Wildlife Rescue team rescued a civet stuck on an East Coast condominium balcony.

Acres' co-CEO, Kalai Vanan, told Mothership they received a call about a "wild animal" stranded on "a very high level".

From the photos shared with Acres, the team confirmed it was a common palm civet that had somehow climbed all the way up.

In a Facebook post, Acres revealed that the condominium unit the civet found itself stuck on was on the 14th floor.

"It was a tricky situation," said Kalai. "Wild animals can be stressed and any attempts to rescue the civet may cause it to make an escape bid and potentially fall to its death."

Using umbrellas

After assessing the situation, the team was joined by volunteers and off-duty staff, and they resorted to using umbrellas as an improvised "shield" to capture the civet.

Kalai said the method worked as it funnelled the civet back into the home.

In a video of the rescue operation, the civet could be seen jumping down from its high perch on the balcony, before scrambling towards the inside of the house.

The civet was safely captured, and then released back within the property at ground level.

"This may surprise some people but civets are one of the species that have adapted well to urban living. They have established populations in many areas and the East is one of them," Kalai explained.

"We are very thankful to the property management for believing in coexistence and letting the animal be in his home environment."

What to do if you encounter a civet at home

Common palm civets are omnivorous nocturnal mammals that can be super shy and elusive.

This is not the first time civets have been spotted in a residential area.

If you encounter a civet in your home's outdoor area, Acres advises leaving it alone, as it will eventually find its way out.

If it is indoors and/or young, it is advised to call the Acres hotline at 97837782.

Acres warns members of the public not to attempt to catch or trap a civet.

It is important not to feed wildlife as well, as this could make them more reliant on humans for food, drawing them towards urban spaces where they might encounter more dangers like vehicular traffic.

Top photos provided by Acres