India’s environmental minister is blaming Harry Potter for the depletion of wild-owl populations throughout the country. He says kids keen to imitate Harry are having their own Hedwigs plucked from the countryside. “Following Harry Potter, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for presenting their children with owls,†the minister said. Of course, the minister espoused this theory while countering a report that found the owls were in fact being killed and traded for black-magic rituals. (Possibly the minister meant to say, “Following Harry Potter, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for Voldermort-style behavior?â€) In any event, while this is sorted out, it’s highly recommended that all the Hippogriffs in the area take extra precautions. [AFP via Movieline]