In a remarkably lavish gesture, a Vietnamese bride was presented with an outlandish dowry by her parents: 100 civet cats. The animals play a key role in the processing of Kopi Luwak, one of the globe’s priciest and most elite coffees and so the gift was both unusual and lavish.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the 22-year-old bride, whose identity has not been revealed, was also given a fortune of properties in addition to the animals. Her dowry comprised 25 gold bars, $20,000 in cash, stocks worth approximately $11,500, seven highly valuable properties of real estate, and other high-value items. The civet cats alone, all females, are appraised at about $70,000.
The bride price was returned by the groom’s family in the form of 10 gold bars, cash worth $7,600, and a variety of diamond jewelry.
The father of the bride said in an interview with SCMP that his aim was to provide his daughter with assets that would yield long-term returns. “My daughter has graduated from business school and is perfectly capable of handling these resources,” he said. “Whether it’s done or not, the aim is to make her independent.” He also explained that it was completely her decision whether or not she decided to raise the civet cats, or sell them.
The lavish dowry elicited conflicting opinions online. While a number of people favored the concept of business gifts, arguing it was an innovative break with the traditional dowry, others were discontented. They considered extravagance in a daughter’s financial capability through the presentation of her wealth she owned over the simple passing on of money.
Others, however, lamented the inclusion of animals in such activities. Opponents complained on moral grounds, cautioning against the threat of animal exploitation and promoting a more considerate approach to the use of animals in commercial and wedding activities.
Civet cats are highly priceless in Vietnam. They can sell for around $700 per female, with pregnant females selling more than $1,000. These animals serve a very essential role in the creation of Kopi Luwak, which is an elite coffee made from beans that pass through a civet’s digestive system.
Besides coffee production, civets are also used for their meat, which is a delicacy in Vietnam and China, and for traditional Chinese medicine products, adding to their economic importance.
