LONDON: Internationally renowned author J.K. Rowling spoke out on Wednesday over reports that fans of her Harry Potter series are killing white owls in India. The report said they were inspired by the use of owls in the 7-book series and young boys were demanding the owls as presents. “There has been a spate of stories in the press recently concerning the upswing in popularity of keeping owls as pets, allegedly as a result of the Harry Potter books,” Rowling wrote on her website. “If it is true that anybody has been influenced by my books to think that an owl would be happiest shut in a small cage and kept in a house, I would like to take this opportunity to say as forcefully as I can: please don't.” Her comments come as a recent report published by the conservation group Traffic last week revealed Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh blamed Harry Potter fans for the dwindling number of wild owls in the country. According to the author of the report, Abrar Ahmed, an investigation into the owl trade revealed that a number of young boy's Harry Potter-themed birthday parties required white owls. Parents went out and got them, it appears. “Following Harry Potter, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for presenting their children with owls,” Ramesh told the BBC. The report highlights the killing of owls in “black magic and sorcery driven by superstition, totems and taboos” and states that half of India's 30 owl species are caught and sold alive in markets. The report also warns of a possible increase in owl sacrifices around Diwali, Hindu festival of lights, which started last Friday. “If it is Harry Potter fans that are going out and killing the owls, people need to really rethink their lives because there is no place for animal abuse and unnecessary killing, especially from a Harry Potter fan,” said London-based animal advocate Lily Carrigan, who added that she was an avid fan of the young wizard tales. “I am a huge fan and to see people go out and do this, whether it is true or not, is really disappointing,” she told Bikya Masr. White owl populations in India are declining at rapid speed and conservationists have long called on the Indian government to do more to protect its natural wildlife. BM
