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     After reading about the Amazon dam story I am riled up on conservation indignation and am carrying the theme into my Harry Potter posts (click here for parts one and two of the series).

    So, today's Harry Potter Science: conservation in the wizarding world. While this isn't an overriding theme in the books, a careful look at the world of Harry Potter shows that wizards do indeed recognize when there is a need for conservation of some of their magical creatures. Part of this conscientiousness stems from the need to manage animals in order to prevent muggles from sighting magical creatures: it is crucial for wizards to be aware of the status of the populations of all the magical species. The Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures places severe restrictions on the wildlife trade, and there are extreme penalties for illegal breeding and selling of magical creatures. The 1965 Ban on Experimental Breeding made the creation of new species illegal, allowing effort and resources to be focused on managing extant species.

    We know that Charlie Weasley works as a "dragon keeper" in Romania, and while his exact duties aren't explained in detail, it is safe to assume he works with the Romanian Longhorn, the only species known for that region. According to Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, "the Longhorn has been the subject of an intensive breeding programme because its numbers have fallen so low in recent years, largely because of the trade in its horns, which are now a Class B Tradeable Material."

    Despite their bad reputations, dragons are magnificent animals and it is good to know that it seems at least some attention is being given to the management of the world's declining dragon populations (lest they meet the fate of Dracorex hogwartsia, whom we met yesterday).

    The magical world has also served as a refuge for species persecuted to the point of extinction by us (muggles). An example is the fate of the Dodo (Raphus cucullatus), one of the most common examples of a species that was driven to extinction by humans in recent history. This was a large, plump, flightless bird that lived on the islands of Mauritius until it was discovered to have an unfortunate combination of traits: being tasty and moving slowly. While the last muggle sighting of a Dodo dates to the late seventeenth century, the species, known as the Diricawl to wizards, was saved by its magical abilities. According to Scamander, "it can vanish in a puff of feathers and reappear elsewhere." This ability to disapparate when necessary explains why none have been seen by humans for centuries: it doesn't take a birdbrain to figure out that humans spell trouble for island species, obviously the Diricawl learned this the hard way. (By the way, Disapparating/Apparating is a skill which wizards may only legally perform after vigorous training and a tough exam at age 17. Is this bird's talent analgous to turkeys cruising down the highways in minivans?).


    Not all birds have been so lucky in the magical world, however. Case in point: the Golden Snidget. It is labeled as "protected" by Scamander, after being brought to the verge of extinction by hunters in the thirteenth century. The tiny round bird has "jewel-like" red eyes, and the extraordinary anatomy of its wings allows it to use rotating joints for exceptional maneuverability. (Thanks to the HP Lexicon for the picture)


    This agility is what got the bird into trouble in the first place. It was originally common in Northern Europe, but the thirteenth century brought a turning point for Snidget populations. While its feathers and eyes have always been highly prized for decorations and potions, its athletic ability turned out to be its downfall. It became highly sought after when it was incorporated into the game of quidditch in 1269. According to quidditch historian Kennilworthy Whisp, the Chief of the Wizard's Council at the time decided to bring a Snidget to a match and offer a prize of 150 galleons (equal to over a million galleons today) to any player that could catch the bird during the game. This started a new tradition, and quidditch matches couldn't end until the Seeker caught the bird, which was confined to the field with Repelling Charms by the spectators. Snidgets became extremely hot commodities, as they were now required equipment for the most popular sport in the wizarding world.

    It took less than one hundred years for the Wizard's Council to recognize its folly (fairly fast, considering we are talking about a government not only admitting the mistake of an official but being proactive in finding a solution). Elfrida Clagg, the new Chieftainess of the Council, declared the Snidget protected, making it illegal to either kill one or use it in a quidditch game for any purpose. (In recognition of her contribution to conservation science, Clagg was honored as "Wizard of the Month for June 2005 on J.K. Rowling's website). The mechanical golden snitch was invented as a replacement, and the birds were no longer exploited for sport.

    Despite being protected for over 600 years now, the Snidget remains a rare bird, never having recovered its populations to previous levels. It is probably safe to assume that it suffered a severe population bottleneck when its numbers sank below a critical level, and is now less able to adapt due to loss of heterozygosity. Being a small, rare animal it could also be suffering from the Allee effect, which happens when population density in an animal's habitat falls to such low levels that they have difficulty locating mates. This is typically seen in species that are sessile or have low dispersal abilities, but the effect can happen with any animal the reaches certain critical low densities.

    This is an important lesson that both muggles and wizards should heed: once a population sinks below a critical point, rehabilitating the species is extremely difficult.

    So, while some may think that wizards are insensitive to issues about animals (any trip through a potHogwarts supply room could double as an anatomy lesson of the many species used to concoct various potions), it is obvious that the magical world does indeed recognize the need for conservation, and has taken proactive steps for preventing the prevention of some of its amazing animals. For information on conservation in the muggle world, check out the Society for Conservation Biology , Conservation International, or the Wildlife Conservation Society for great information and links. You can see if any of them have a chapter or facility near you. If they don't, consider starting your own, I did that with the SCB last fall and have found them to be extremely enthusiastic about helping new chapters get up and running.