Owls are facing an increased threat of trapping, torture and poaching for use in tantric rituals during the festive period of Diwali. Wildlife activists state that now the demand for owls for use in black magic rituals is not restricted to this festive time though it does peak during this period.
The demand for owls has increased in Uttarakhand as compared to the previous year with owls weighing more than 2.5 kg fetching lakh of rupees, they said. However, the Forest Department has not been able to take necessary measures to prevent the slaughter of these birds during the festival which celebrates the victory of good over evil. The erroneous perception of tantric rituals has resulted in some trappers of owls forcing to drink alcohol for many days.
Whereas the demand for owls and snakes with specific features is almost constant throughout the year, the demand for owls peaks during the Diwali time because it is wrongly believed that sacrificing an owl and using its body parts in black magic rituals helps a person to gain wealth. The illegal trade of these creatures has caused an increase in the activities of trappers in Uttarakhand eager to make a quick buck as these creatures are sold for lakh of rupees in the national market. Owls are ritually sacrificed and their body parts used by those seeking to please Goddesses Lakshmi which is the result of misconceptions because the owl is the vehicle of Lakshmi.
According to the president of Endangered Flora and Fauna on Earth Conservation Team (EFFECT) chairman Abhishek Singh, there is high demand for owls with reddish coloured eyes and ear tufts like the rock eagle owl and the brown wood owl.
A bird weighing more than 2.5 kg or 4 kg can fetch anything between Rs 1 to 10 lakh in the national market. Hunting and trade of all Indian owl species is banned under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 of India. A year ago the then Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh had said that the ministry will consider facilitating stricter measures under the Wildlife Protection Act to protect the owls from poaching while releasing a report titled ‘Imperiled custodians of the night” compiled by TRAFFIC India on the impact of illegal wildlife trade on owls in India. However, the department has failed to undertake even the basic measures for protecting owls in the State.
According to Vipul Maurya, junior research fellow studying human wildlife conflict in Garhwal, villagers involved in trapping owls cut the head and body parts of owls and dry them. “Apart from their use in black magic, it is also wrongly believed by locals that since these birds have good nocturnal vision, eating the eyes of the owls will improve the eye sight of a human. Their blood and ashes of an owl ritually sacrificed are also used by some Tantrics”, he added.
