Twenty meters above the forest floor, a nimble climber appears in the branches of a tree - a Masked Palm Civet. The distinctive paw prints of these wild cats can be seen throughout the rainforest.

A Masked Palm Civet feeds on a fig. (Photo provided by the film crew.)

Masked Palm Civets resemble domestic cats, but are more slender. Their lack of spots or stripes distinguish them from other palm civets. Instead, they have reddish grey fur and a grey and white face.

Two Masked Palm Civets eat figs from the same tree. (Photo provided by the film crew.)

Civets stay nearby streams, and usually sleep high in the dense forest canopy to evade predators. These omnivores feed on small animals such as rodents and birds, as well as fruit such as figs, bananas, and mangoes. They aren’t picky, also occasionally consuming tree leaves, mollusks, arthropods, and even frogs and snakes.

Two Masked Palm Civets eat figs from the same tree. (Photo provided by the film crew.)

A Masked Palm Civet eats figs in a tree. (Photo provided by the film crew.)

Masked Palm Civets are excellent rock climbers, and often leap and play in the forest. Their paws are tipped with sharp claws. The nocturnal creatures usually keep a low profile during the day, only emerging after night falls.

A Masked Palm Civet eats figs in a tree. (Photo provided by the film crew.)

The face of a Masked Palm Civet. (Photo provided by the film crew.)