Dr Peter Roberts

I have recently began a programme of research into carnivore biodiversity in Europe, starting in Northern Italy. Among aims I hope to discover the presence or absence of species, intraguild interactions of mesocarnivores, and spatial and temporal preferences of species. The main focal species is European Genets (Genetta genetta) in habitats that they may only recently have dispersed into. 

Previously, I researched the behavioural ecology and captive animal welfare of small carnivoran mammals in South Africa and Indonesia completing my Masters and PhD studies on Large Spotted Genets (Genetta tigrina) and Asian Palm Civets (Paradoxurus musangus / P. hermaphroditus). I continue to be involved in highlighting the welfare infringements for civets in the pet trade and in production of Kopi luwak (civet coffee) in Indonesia. My current publications are:

• LEWIS-WHELAN, B., ARDIANSYAH, A., ROBERTS, P.D., NIJMAN, V., DAMIANOU, E., MORCATTY, T.Q., BIROT, H., IMRON, M.A. & NEKARIS, K.A.I. 2023. Welfare and management of civets in civet coffee tourism plantations, Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science [In review].

• ROBERTS, P.D. 2020. The Asian Palm Civet: Fundamental Baseline Findings in Ecology, Captive Husbandry and Effects of Trade in Civet Coffee [PhD Thesis] Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK. [https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/323a2657-b804-4174-909f-e530b48a78b4/1/Roberts2020AsianPalmCivet.pdf].

• WIDDOWS, C.D., ROBERTS, P.D., MADDOCK, A.H., CARVALHO, F., GAUBERT, P. & DO LINH SAN, E. 2016. A conservation assessment of Genetta tigrina. In Child, M.F., Roxburgh, L., Do Linh San, E., Raimondo, D., Davies-Mostert, H.T., editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.

• NIJMAN, V., SPAAN, D., RODE-MARGONO, E.J., ROBERTS, P.D., WIRDATETI, & NEKARIS, K.A.I. 2014. Trade in Common Palm Civets Paradoxurus hermaphroditus in Javan and Balinese markets, Small Carnivore Conservation 51: 11-17.

• RODE-MARGONO, E.J., VOSKAMP, A., SPAAN, D., LEHTINEN, J.K., ROBERTS, P.D., NIJMAN, V. & NEKARIS K.A.I 2014. Records of small carnivores and of medium-sized nocturnal mammals on Java, Indonesia, Small Carnivore Conservation 50:1-11.

• ROBERTS, P.D., SOMERS, M.J., WHITE, R.M. & NEL, J.A.J. 2007. Diet of the South African large-spotted genet Genetta tigrina (Carnivora, Viverridae) in a coastal dune forest, Acta Theriologica 52(1):45-53.

• ROBERTS, P.D. 2006. Aspects of the Behavioural Ecology of Genetta tigrina. School of Biological Sciences, Walter Sisulu University (M.Sc Thesis), Republic of South Africa.