The Importance of Wildlife

There are many creatures within the Wizarding World who are of great importance to the magical landscapes and outdoor areas seen within the books and films. 

Places like the Forbidden Forest and the Great Lake are important areas for the animals that live near Hogwarts. From the unicorns and Thestrals who call the Forbidden Forest their home thanks to the tree coverage and immense amount of land they can use to roam, eat and live within, to the Giant Squid and Grindylows who swim amongst the depths of the Great Lake. 

Without these habitats being left mainly untouched by those studying at Hogwarts, these magical creatures would not be able to thrive and live out their lives naturally and without human harm coming to them.

Ecological balance must be allowed to thrive to ensure a stable ecosystem, which means living organisms must coexist within an environment to help maintain stability.  Even the smallest creatures can have a big impact on the stability of the ecosystem, like ants and Billywigs, to larger species that are often wrongfully poached, such as lions and Graphorns. 

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2023’s theme for World Wildlife Day day was “Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation,” aimed at highlighting all conservation efforts and the people who are helping to make a difference within this field. To put our own spin on things, we’re taking a look at a few of the wizarding world characters and actors who are helping to make a difference in the awareness and welfare of both magical and non-magical creatures.

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Creature Advocates from the Wizarding World

As we strive to be stewards for the protection of wildlife in the Muggle world, we take inspiration from the activists within the wizarding world. Here are a few who have made a difference.

Hermione Granger

We are sure that Hermione would willingly celebrate and promote World Wildlife Day, because during her time at Hogwarts, she took part in her own magical activism. As the founder of the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (also known as S.P.E.W.), Hermione championed the rights of elves used in houses within the wizarding world and fought for their own respected place within wizarding law.

In addition to advocating for elves used in houses, Hermione also showed immense kindness and compassion to various other magical creatures, including Buckbeak, Kreacher, and the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon who was chained up within the depths of Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

Evanna Lynch

Since the Harry Potter franchise ended, Evanna Lynch (the beloved actress who brought Luna Lovegood to life) has been a vocal figure within the animal rights community. She advocates for veganism in many ways, including joining up with and supporting campaigns launched by PETA, supporting the charity Veganuary, and launching the cruelty-free and vegan Kinder Beauty Box. On her podcast, The Chickpeeps, Evanna and her co-hosts discussed the dilemmas vegans may face in a world that is mostly non-vegan, the diversity of a vegan world, and how to spread compassion toward animals.

Luna Lovegood herself is a compassionate character, showing sensitivity and inclusiveness toward misunderstood creatures like Thestrals and elves.

Check out our "Witch Weekly's Most Inspiring Activist Award" video to learn more about Evanna.

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Newt Scamander

Perhaps one of the most notable animal-loving figures from within the wizarding world is Magizoologist Newt Scamander. His expanding briefcase provides a sanctuary for a variety of magical creature species, many of whom have been rescued or are being looked after for conservation purposes.

Travelling the world to help these many magical creatures is something that sets Newt apart, exhibiting his kindness and selflessness. His book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is another example of his dedication to, and passion for, his work; creating a resource to aid in the learning and knowledge of future witches and wizards regarding all creatures and how to respect them. We at The Protego Foundation are in full agreement that the movie version of Newt would have worded things very differently than what is found in the copies of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that are available for Muggles to purchase.

Bonnie Wright

Bonnie Wright (our very own Ginny Weasley) has had a deep appreciation for nature since she was a young age. In addition to her career in acting and directing, she is well known for her environmental activism.

Wright ensures all her choices of food are environmentally conscious and does all she can to reduce waste, including composting in her garden and using reusable items. Her book, Go Gently: Actionable Steps to Nurture Yourself and the Planet, promotes simple, eco-friendly ways in which everyone can live sustainably in their daily lives and help battle climate change. 

Will you join us in celebrating the wonder of our magical and non-magical animals and plants? Spread the word with your friends and family and let them know why we should value and protect all of the wildlife that we are so lucky to live alongside.





Written by Grace Hurley

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