In the magical world of Harry Potter, various species of owls serve as messengers, freely traveling between the supernatural world and the "Muggle" world. They can deliver letters and packages and even fly on broomsticks for wizards.

Harry Potter's owl messenger is a snowy owl named Hedwig (Bubo scandiacus). Hedwig remains by Harry's side throughout the Harry Potter series, earning many fans.

Harry Potter's wizarding friends also have owls. For example, Ron has a miniature owl named Pigwidgeon, speculated to be a scops owl (Otus scops) based on movie scenes. The Malfoy family owns an Eurasian eagle owl, and Percy Weasley's screech owl belongs to the horned owl genus.

Since the release of the first Harry Potter film in 2001, the series' books and movies have reached billions of viewers worldwide. The image of owls as companions and messengers captivated audiences globally.

However, the desire to own an owl as a pet, akin to the wizards in the series, has caused trouble. In 2010, Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh protested the release of the Harry Potter series, which led to a surge in the popularity of owls as pets. This exacerbated the illegal trade of wild owls, posing a severe threat to the survival of Indian owls.

J.K. Rowling addressed this issue on her official website, stating, "If it is true that the books have influenced anybody to think that an owl would be happiest shut in a small cage and kept in a house, Please don't."

In reality, owls are not as amiable as portrayed in the movies. As highly specialized predators adapted to nocturnal hunting, their intelligence is not highly developed. Gary Gero, the animal trainer for the Harry Potter film series, noted that the owls used in filming were not exceptionally responsive.

Even simple shots required hundreds of takes, with multiple stand-ins simultaneously involved. For example, during the filming of Hedwig's scenes in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," seven snowy owls were used.

As raptors, owls also possess intense aggression, unlike their depicted docile nature in the movies. Their nails are sharp, and their beaks are formidable, often capable of swiftly dispatching prey and defending their territory. There have been reports in Europe of long-eared owls injuring cattle that intrude into their nesting areas. Attempting to pet an owl like Harry does could result in bloody hands, let alone their sharp talons.

Providing suitable food for owls is also troublesome. Some owls eat only furry rodents, while others consume small insects. In the wild, owl chicks are fed by their parents, who tear up food and provide it directly. In captivity, ensuring that the food meets the owl's preferences and safely delivering it to them is challenging. More commonly, meticulously prepared food may be ignored by owls, leading to dehydration and eventual death.

It is evident that in the Muggle world, owls cannot deliver letters for wizards, nor do they passively accept human affection or possess magical abilities to escape poachers. They are fragile unique, and deserve respect for their lives, quietly thriving in a world devoid of magic.