Has the Harry Potter Films Put a Dark Magic Hex on India’s Owls?

Today, 5th November, is Deepavali (Dewali, Divali) and Traffic, the wildlife trade monitoring network, has released a report, written by ornithologist Abrar Ahmed, about the illegal trade of owls in India. Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is placing the blame on fans of the increasingly popular Harry Potter for the demise of wild owls. The timely release of the report is significant as many owls are sacrificed during the Deepavali festivities.

Owls are often overlooked as animals of great importance, but their contribution to the environment is significant. The trade of these birds is slowly wiping them out.

Owls are prized in India, especially in tribal communities, for their mystical qualities and use in black magic. They are believed to be able to ward away evil spirits. Tantriks (rituals) involving owls can also be performed to help with prolonged sickness, infertility and even the desire for a male child. The tantrik prescribes rituals to be performed with either owl parts, or by sacrificing an owl on a new moon night, the most popular being tonight, Deepavali.

The report warns that the wild owl population is under threat. Source:Abrar Ahmed, Traffic.

The owls’ bodies parts are thought to have medicinal properties, eyes are thought to assist with seeing in the dark or curing fits.
Owls are not just being caught from the wild for sacrifices and body parts. Some owls are used in street performances, replacing the dancing bears, as the ‘bear charmers’ were being persecuted by wildlife authorities.

Five Species of Owls Most Commonly Found for Sale in India.
1. Spotted owlet (Athene brama)
2. Barn owl (Tyto alba)
3. Rock Eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis)
4. Jungle owlet (Glaucidium radiatum)
5. Collared Scops-owl (Otus bakkamoena)


So, is the Harry Potter reference merely a tenuous link? Clearly there is no owl sacrifice in the books and films, but Harry does keep his snowy owl, Hedwig, in an exceptionally small cage throughout the film. Owls are also seen delivering the post, including a broomstick and have an important role to play during the films. Middle classes are jumping onto the Harry Potter bandwagon; throwing themed parties complete with rented owl.

In India, owls have been used in mythology for centuries, so to place all the blame on Harry Potter mania, the films especially, is quite unfair. However, what could have been a dying trade, seen only in remote tribes, could be re-emerging stronger than before.

Deepavali is the festival of lights, where good triumphs over evil, let’s hope that the light will be shed on the illegal trade of owls and that it will soon be curbed.

Speeding Train Kills Seven Elephants in India

A tragedy occurred in northern district of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, in eastern India on Wednesday. Seven elephants were killed while trying to protect two calves that had become stuck on the tracks. As the adults crowded round the calves the train hit them, killing 5 and fatally injuring two more, which died on Thursday. The calves were among the dead.

One of the Seven Elephants Killed by a Speeding Train. Source: AFP

After the incident, the surviving members of the herd were seen crowding round the tracks, watching over the bodies of the dead. The mourning behaviour of elephants is widely known, and this incident once again shows that elephants are not merely just dumb animals.

It is thought that the train involved in the collision was travelling at 65km/h, which is twice the legal speed limit. There have been around 20 elephant deaths this year alone by train collisions.

Due to human encroachment on jungles and forests, an elephant’s natural home, human/elephant incidences are becoming more and more common. Man’s relationship with the elephant has turbulent, and this sad story just highlights who the losers are.