He said that Harry Potter books and films featuring his feathered friend Hedwig are popular in India and had contributed towards the demise of owls.
Mr Ramesh said there had been an increase in people wanting to buy them from illegal bird traders.
He was speaking to mark the launch of a report on India's owl population.
Written by the leading conservation group, Traffic, the report calls for tougher measures to protect owls ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which is being celebrated on Friday.
It says that thousands of owls are traditionally sacrificed on "auspicious" occasions.
'Strangest demands'
"Following Harry Potter, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for presenting their children with owls," Mr Ramesh said.
Owls play an important role in Harry Potter films Harry Potter publishers Bloomsbury declined to comment on Mr Ramesh's assertions.
The report's author, Abrar Ahmed, wrote that he decided to investigate the owl trade after being asked by a friend to procure a live white-coloured owl for her son's Harry Potter-themed 10th birthday party.
"This was probably one of the strangest demands made to me as an ornithologist," he wrote.
His research found that growing number of owls, a highly endangered species in India, are now being trapped, traded or killed in black magic rituals.
The report says that half of India's 30 species of owl can be found on sale in markets.
Others are killed for medicinal purposes.
"The sacrifice of owls on auspicious occasions appears to be a regular practice and [there could be] a possible increase in trade and sacrifices around Diwali," the Imperilled Custodians of the Night report says.
[Click here to read full article]
Are you tired of being human, having talented brain turning to a vampire in a good posture in ten minutes, Do you want to have power and influence over others, To be charming and desirable, To have wealth, health, without delaying in a good human posture and becoming an immortal? If yes, these your chance. It's a world of vampire where life get easier,We have made so many persons vampires and have turned them rich, You will assured long life and prosperity, You shall be made to be very sensitive to mental alertness, Stronger and also very fast, You will not be restricted to walking at night only even at the very middle of broad day light you will be made to walk, This is an opportunity to have the human vampire virus to perform in a good posture. If you are interested contact us on Vampirelord7878@gmail.com
ReplyDelete