Harry Potter's Owl Hedwig, Actually an Endangered Species?

This owl, which appeared in Harry Potter and became famous as the character 'Hedwig', is actually a snowy owl. As its name suggests, its snow-white appearance evokes a sense of mystery. However, this snowy owl is actually an endangered species.

The snowy owl is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This means that the species is likely to become endangered in the wild within a few months or years. It is estimated that there are currently around 20,000 snowy owls worldwide. In 2013, there were reportedly 200,000, meaning that 90% of the population has disappeared in just 10 years.

Snowy owls are Arctic birds. As everyone knows, the Arctic is a region that is rapidly melting due to climate change. The reason why snowy owls have white plumage is due to the Arctic environment, but as the Arctic melts, brown-colored snowy owl variations are also emerging.

In 2023, a snowy owl that should have been in the Arctic was spotted in California, USA. This is reportedly the first time in nearly 100 years that a snowy owl has been found in the southern United States. Snowy owls are known to migrate south to the Midwest in search of food. They can fly long distances, so they can cross continents. However, it is rare for them to travel as far south as the southern United States.

Experts say that the snowy owl may have hitched a ride on a cargo ship and ended up in the southern United States, and the abundance of food may have led it to settle there. It is common for birds to travel long distances by hitching rides on cargo ships. However, there is also a theory that the owl may have migrated south due to a lack of food in its original habitat caused by climate change. Given the severity of climate change, this is a plausible hypothesis.

If snowy owls frequently migrate to human-populated areas in search of food, they are at increased risk of accidents. They could collide with power lines, buildings, or vehicles. In fact, the IUCN lists accidents involving railways, power lines, and runways as one of the reasons for the snowy owl's endangered status.

To protect the snowy owl, which is facing extinction due to various factors, the Owl Research Institute is making various efforts. They are conducting ongoing research on owls to understand the threats they face and how to protect them. They also publish materials to raise awareness about the plight of snowy owls and conduct fundraising activities. Hopefully, with the collaboration of organizations like the Owl Research Institute and the international community, we will hear good news about an increase in the snowy owl population this year.