Two “giant mice” running wild on Campus? Not at all! Surprised teachers and st

2023-11-01 • Student Life

(Provided by the Office of Public Affairs) On November 30, many people passing by the campus main road were initially startled, but then started laughing upon closer inspection. Witness Ms. Hsu, a secretary at Fu Jen Catholic University (FJCU), described the scene: “As I was cycling by, suddenly, two large things darted out from beside me, and I thought, are those giant mice? Just as I was getting goosebumps, I thought it was probably something else, so I turned around to get a clearer look, and I saw them just looking around in confusion with a “white” streak on their faces. I later found out they are ‘masked palm civets’!”" (video)


After seeing this, Ms. Hsu immediately took out her phone to capture the moment. She guessed that the two masked palm civets in the footage were mother and child, judging by their different sizes and how the larger one kept looking back to check on the smaller one while running, like a mother watching over her child. Ms. Hsu noted that she saw them around 5:40 PM at the roundabout near the Saint Joseph statue, initially thinking they were two large grey objects emerging from the side of the roundabout's drain cover. Similarly, nearby people were also drawn to stop and watch.



Videos of the masked palm civets on campus quickly spread among teachers and students. Long-time faculty members mentioned they had never seen them before. It is speculated that the availability of food sources in the campus attracted the civets, and the ones spotted likely moved around through the drainage system, and had therefore rarely been seen. Because of this, it is possible that more, or potentially even many more of them are living undetected in the campus. Masked palm civets are nocturnal, carnivorous animals from the Viverridae family, known for monogamous relationships. Their sharp claws make them adept climbers, and they are often seen eating fruits in trees, hence their nickname ‘gem-faced civet.’ However, they are omnivores, feeding on fruits, insects, birds, and rodents. In Taiwan, masked palm civets are classified as general wildlife, and cannot be captured or kept without official permission. In recent years, they have adapted well to urban life, yet they still face various dangers, including road accidents and attacks by stray dogs, which are the second and first leading causes of death, respectively.


▲Source: Taipei Zoo