According to Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, Harry Potter fans who want their own Hedwig are responsible for the rapid demise of wild owls in the country. These remarks came right after a wildlife group presented a study suggesting that an increasing number of owls in India were being killed and traded in black magic rituals. The countdown until religious groups that wanted to ban the series scream “Told you so!” starts now. Meanwhile, I had no idea it was so easy to capture wild owls. [AFP via Gawker]
The report’s author, Abrar Ahmed, wrote that he decided to investigate the owl trade after being asked by a friend to procure a live white-coloured owl for her son’s Harry Potter-themed 10th birthday party.
“This was probably one of the strangest demands made to me as an ornithologist,” he wrote.