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Harry Potter Blamed For India's Disappearing Owls

Posted by samzenpus on from the even-muggles-want-one dept.

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."

4 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Diwali by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Right, and it absolutely, positively has nothing to do with diwali. Move along, move along. Blame Harry Potter!

  2. Uh... oooookay... by fieldstone · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm amazed to be the first saying this, but clearly the problem here is not Harry Potter, it's parents who aren't willing or able to tell their children "no". An owl is not a pet.

  3. Isn't it illegal.... by mark-t · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ... to have an owl as a pet in the first place?

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    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  4. It takes a special kind of stupidity by hey! · · Score: 3, Insightful

    to voluntarily lodge a nocturnal killing machine in your own home.

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    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.