In an unusual contact between the the United Kingdom's Muggle government and the Ministry of Magic, the Ministry was warned that owl thieves are on the prowl. For a total of six times in half as many years, this past fall the Furness Owl Centre in Barrow, Cumbria, was broken into again, robbed, and the resident owls interfered with. Cumbria is a region in the famous Lake District of England — which oft inspired the English Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth and Coleridge, and where the magical writer Beatrix Potter resided.

The Centre has scores of rare birds, from all parts of the world, as part of an endangered species breeding program. In previous break-ins, some owls were killed. In this latest invasion, two very rare chaco owlets (a species found only in Argentina and Chile) were stolen — one from under its nesting mother! The Centre operates on a restrictive budget, as so many conservation groups do, and now the staff worries that the scant monies will have to go to increased security rather than caring for its avian charges.

Muggle authorities have asked for the wizarding world's help in tracking down these despicable thieves before they do more damage to owleries in both of our realms. So, please be on the alert for not only rare owls but those which are banded (not usually a magical practice), and/or those which seem to not know how to carry posts! Our readers' assistance in this matter can only help to solve these baffling robberies.

Source: BBC News