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Harry Potter Blamed For India's Disappearing Owls
GillBates0 writes "Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has blamed fans of Harry Potter for the demise of wild owls in the country as children seek to emulate the boy wizard by taking the birds as pets. 'Following Harry Potter, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for presenting their children with owls,' Ramesh said Wednesday, according to comments reported by the BBC."
The original source for this article, an article by the World Wildlife Fund's TRAFFIC division, explains this problem as one of illegal trading in the birds and the illegal capturing of wild owls.
http://www.wwfindia.org/news_facts/?4940/Black-magic-behind-illegal-owl-trade-in-India
The word "endangered" is used in several articles referencing this problem. However, no article provides the wild owls' population numbers. Endangered species should be protected, but it should be shown that the species are indeed endangered.
I'm sure Harry Potter did provide some impetus behind taking these animals as pets, especially among young children, but the problem in India is further exacerbated by the belief in the magical properties of the owls, especially tufted owls. The culture of taking these birds from the wild is longstanding, and not traceable back to Harry Potter at all.
What if they were all getting pet Alligators, and then when they got bored, flushing them into the sewers?
What horrors!
But is anything to blame for Slashdot's disappearing comments?
They aren't blaming the fictional Harry Potter for the demise of the owls - they're blaming fanbois. I'm sure everyone here on Slashdot can empathise with blaming ills on fanbois.
Possums are one of the few wild mammals that really don't carry rabies. Being slashdot I felt obligated to point that out.
Yes. "Hunting of and trade in all Indian owl species is banned under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972."