A mixture of 15 mg/kg body weight ketamine hydrochloride (KE) and 1.5 mg/kg body weight xylazine hydrochloride (XY) was used to successfully immobilize free-ranging brown palm civets (Paradoxurus jerdoni). Between March 1998 and June 1999, 10 immobilizations of 7 individuals were carried out in tropical rainforests of the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (India). Five males and two females were captured in Havahart live traps, using banana as bait. The mean dosage for the animals, whose weight (mean ± SD) was 2.4 kg ± 0.8 was 36.0 ± 11.0 mg KE and 3.7 ± 1.1 mg XY, administered intramuscularly. Mean time for lateral recumbency was 6.1 ± 3.78 min (n = 10) and the mean time taken for complete recovery was 84.9 ± 28.8 min (n = 9). Recovery was gradual and no fatalities or injuries occurred during the operation. The drug combination used was effective and has the potential for immobilizing other viverrids.