Harry Potter blamed for dwindling number of wild owls in India

Indian Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh, has blamed Hollywood's famous flick 'Harry Potter' for the dwindling number of wild owls in the country.

Ramesh said the craze for 'Harry Potter' in India had led to an increase in people buying owls from illegal bird traders.

"Following Harry Potter, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for presenting their children with owls," the Telegraph quoted Ramesh as telling BBC.

Harry Potter publishers Bloomsbury declined to comment.