Fans of Harry Potter kidnapping wild owls have contributed greatly to the rapid decline of their population in India, according to a statement made today by Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. His remarks come after a recent study that found that many people are also killing owls in various “black magic rituals,” which make use of “their body parts such as the skull, feathers, claws, heart, liver, kidney, blood, eyes, beak, eggshells, meat, and bones.” (Um… At least they’re not being wasteful?) But just as alarming is that many parents are also attempting to trap wild owls—which is a DIY project in India, apparently—to give to their Harry Potter-loving kids to use as their very own Hedwigs. Do they then force the owls to deliver their mail? [AFP via Movieline]
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