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Stephen Robert Irwin (February 22, 1962
September 4, 2006), nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian
wildlife expert and television personality. He achieved world-wide fame
from the television program The Crocodile Hunter, an
internationally-broadcast wildlife documentary series co-hosted with his
wife Terri Irwin. Together with her, he also co-owned and operated
Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, founded by his parents.
****
Born: February 22, 1962
Essendon, Victoria, Australia.
Died: September 4, 2006
Batt Reef, Queensland, Australia
Occupation: Naturalist, Zoologist,
Conservationist,
Television Personality
Spouse: Terri Irwin
Children: Bindi Sue Irwin and
Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin
Website: CrocodileHunter.com.au
****
Early years
Born to Lyn and Bob Irwin in Essendon, a
suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Irwin moved with his parents as a child
to Queensland in 1970. Irwin described his father as a wildlife expert
interested in herpetology whilst his mother Lyn was a wildlife
rehabilitator. After moving to Queensland, Bob and Lyn Irwin started the
small Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, where Steve grew up around
crocodiles and other reptiles.
Irwin became involved with the park in a
number of ways, including taking part in daily animal feeding, as well
as care and maintenance activities. On his sixth birthday he was given a
12-foot scrub python. He began handling crocodiles at the age of nine
after his father had educated him on reptiles from an early age.[1] Also
at age nine he wrestled his first crocodile, again under his father's
supervision.[2] He graduated from Caloundra State High School in 1979.
He soon moved to Northern Queensland, where he became a crocodile
trapper, removing crocodiles from populated areas where they were
considered a danger. He performed the service for free with the quid pro
quo that he be allowed to keep them for the park. Irwin followed in his
father's footsteps, becoming a volunteer for the Queensland Government's
East Coast Crocodile Management program.
Career
Rise to fame
The park was a family run business, until
it was turned over to Irwin. He took over the running of the park, now
called Australia Zoo (renaming it in 1992). Also that year, he appeared
in a one-off reptile and wildlife special for television. In 1991, he
met Terri Raines at the park, while performing a demonstration. The two
married in June 1992, in Eugene, Oregon. The footage, shot by John
Stainton, of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode
of The Crocodile Hunter. The series debuted on Australian TV screens in
1996, and by the following year had made its way onto North American
television. The Crocodile Hunter became successful in the United States
and also, after repackaging by Partridge Films for ITV, in the UK. [3]In
1998 he continued, working with producer and director Mark Strickson, to
present The Ten Deadliest Snakes in the World. By 1999, he had become
very popular in the United States, making his first appearance on The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno. By this time, the Crocodile Hunter series
was now broadcast in over 137 countries, reaching 500 million people.
His exuberant and enthusiastic presenting style, broad Australian
accent, signature khaki shorts, and catchphrase "Crikey!" became known
worldwide.[4]
Under Irwin's leadership, the operations
grew to include the zoo, the television series, the Steve Irwin
Conservation Foundation (renamed Wildlife Warriors), and the
International Crocodile Rescue. Improvements to the Australia Zoo
include the Animal Planet Crocoseum, the rainforest aviary and Tiger
Temple. Irwin mentioned that he was considering opening an Australia Zoo
in Las Vegas, Nevada, and possibly at other sites around the world.[5]
Film
In 2001, Irwin appeared in a cameo role in
the Eddie Murphy film Dr. Dolittle 2. Irwin's only starring feature film
role was in 2002's The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, which was
released to mixed reviews. In the film Irwin (who portrayed himself and
performed numerous stunts) mistakes some CIA agents for poachers. He
sets out to stop them from capturing a crocodile, which, unknown to him,
has actually swallowed a tracking transmitter. The film won the Best
Family Feature Film award for a comedy film at the Young Artist Awards.
The film was produced on a budget of about $12 million, and has grossed
$33 million.[6] To promote the film, Irwin was featured in an animated
short produced by Animax Entertainment for Intermix.[7]
In 2002, the Irwins appeared in the Wiggles
video/DVD release Wiggly Safari, which was set in Irwin's Australia Zoo.
It featured Irwin-themed songs written and performed by the Wiggles such
as "Crocodile Hunter", "Australia Zoo", "Snakes (You can look but you
better not touch)" and "We're The Crocodile Band". Irwin was featured
prominently on the cover and throughout the movie.
In 2003, Irwin was reportedly in line to
host a talk show on Australian network television, a series that never
went into production.[citation needed]
In 2006, Irwin provided his voice for the
2006 animated film Happy Feet, as an elephant seal named Trev. The film
was dedicated to Irwin, as he died during post-production.[8]
Animal Planet
Animal Planet ended The Crocodile Hunter
with a series finale entitled "Steve's Last Adventure." The last
Crocodile Hunter documentary spanned three hours with footage of Irwin's
across-the-world adventure in locations including the Himalayas, the
Yangtze River, Borneo, and the Kruger National Park. Irwin went on to
star in other Animal Planet documentaries, including The Croc Files, The
Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and New Breed Vets.
Later projects
In January 2006 as part of "Australia Week"
celebrations in the USA, Irwin appeared at the Pauley Pavilion, UCLA in
Los Angeles, California. During an interview on The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno, Irwin announced that Discovery Kids would be developing a show
for his daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin.[9] The show, Jungle Girl, was tipped
to be similar to The Wiggles movies, with songs that surround a story. A
feature-length episode of Australian kids TV show The Wiggles entitled
"Wiggly Safari" appears dedicated to Irwin, and he's featured in it
heavily with his wife and daughter. The show includes the song
"Crocodile Hunter, Big Steve Irwin".
In 2006, the American network The Travel
Channel had begun to show a series of specials starring Irwin and his
family as they travelled on cross-country tours.
Media work
Irwin was also involved in several media
campaigns. He enthusiastically joined with the Australian Quarantine and
Inspection Service to promote Australia's strict quarantine/customs
requirements, with advertisements and posters featuring slogans such as,
"Quarantine Matters! Don't muck with it". His payments for these
advertising campaigns were directed into his wildlife fund.[10]
In 2004 he was appointed ambassador for The
Ghan, the passenger train running from Adelaide to Alice Springs in the
central Australian outback, when the line was extended all the way to
Darwin on the northern coast that year. For some time he was sponsored
by Toyota.[11]
He was also a keen promoter for Australian
tourism in general and Queensland tourism in particular. In 2002 the
Australia Zoo was voted Queensland's top tourist attraction.[12] His
immense popularity in the United States meant he often promoted
Australia as a tourist destination there.[13]
Honours
In 2001 Irwin was awarded the Centenary
Medal for his "service to global conservation and to Australian
tourism".[14] In 2004 he was recognised as Tourism Export of the
Year.[15] He was also nominated in 2004 for Australian of the Year, an
honour which was won by Steve Waugh. Doubts were cast over his
nomination when the "baby Bob" incident, in which Steve dangled his
infant son in front of a crocodile, occurred in January of that
year.[16] Shortly before his death, he was to be named an adjunct
professor at the University of Queensland's School of Integrative
Biology.[17]
Environmentalism
See also: Wildlife Warriors
Irwin was a passionate conservationist and
believed in promoting environmentalism by sharing his excitement about
the natural world rather than preaching to people. He was concerned with
conservation of endangered animals and land clearing leading to loss of
habitat. He considered conservation to be the most important part of his
work: "I consider myself a wildlife warrior. My mission is to save the
world's endangered species."[12] Irwin bought "large tracts of land" in
Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the United States, which he described as
"like national parks" and stressed the importance of people realising
that they could each make a difference.[18]
He had urged people to take part in
considerate tourism and not support illegal poaching through the
purchase of items such as turtle shells, or shark-fin soup:[19]
These Hitlers use the camouflage of
science to make money out of animal deaths
So whenever they murder our
animals and call it sustainable use, I'll fight it. Since when has
killing a wild animal, eating it or wearing it, ever saved a species?
There are people who butt out their
cigarettes in gorilla-paw ashtrays, with wastepaper baskets that were
once elephant feet, who have ivory ornaments
who wear cheetah fur.
Don't buy these things! Then there'll be no market and the animals won't
be killed.
We have domesticated livestock raised for
consumption and perfectly good fake leather and fur, so why must we kill
wild animals to satisfy the macabre taste of some rich person?[20]
He founded the Steve Irwin Conservation
Foundation, which was later renamed Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, and
became an independent charity. He was described after his death by the
CEO of RSPCA Queensland as a "modern-day Noah", and British naturalist
David Bellamy lauded his skills as a natural historian and media
performer.[21] Irwin discovered a new species of turtle that now bears
his name, Elseya irwini Irwin's Turtle a species of turtle found on
the coast of Queensland.[22]
He also helped to found a number of other
projects, such as the International Crocodile Rescue, as well as the Lyn
Irwin Memorial Fund, in memory of his mother, with proceeds going to the
Iron Bark Station Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Irwin, however, was criticised for having
an unsophisticated view of conservation in Australia that seemed more
linked to tourism than the problems Australia faces as a continent. The
Sydney Morning Herald reported in 2002 that Irwin had stated:
"Here is my greatest gift to the world,"
he cries. "We need to stand proud of what is Australia
the greatest
grazing nation on the face of the Earth! The whole joint is grazing land
and by crikey we're good at it! We should be
[eating] beef and lamb,
not kangaroos and crocodiles. They're why tourists come to Australia.
They are tourism icons!"
In response to questions of Australia's
problems with overgrazing, salinity, erosion, Irwin responded: "Cows
have been on our land for so long that Australia has evolved to handle
those big animals." The Sydney Morning Herald concluded with the opinion
that his message was confusing and amounted to "eating roos and crocs is
bad for tourism, and therefore more cruel than eating other
animals".[23]
Personal life
Family
In 1992, Irwin married Terri Raines from
Eugene, Oregon, United States. The pair had met a few months earlier
when Terri had visited the zoo on a holiday. Said Terri at the time, "I
thought there was no one like this anywhere in the world. He sounded
like an environmental Tarzan, a larger-than-life superhero guy."[24]
Together they had two children: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born July
24, 1998), and a son, Robert Clarence "Bob" Irwin (born December 1,
2003). Bindi Sue is jointly named after two of Steve Irwin's favourite
animals: Bindi, a saltwater crocodile, and Sui, a Staffordshire Bull
Terrier who died in June 2004.
Irwin was as enthusiastic about his family
as he was about his work. He once described his daughter Bindi as "the
reason he was put on the Earth." His wife once said, "The only thing
that could ever keep him away from the animals he loves are the people
he loves even more. "[5]
Controversy
Some controversy arose during a public show
on January 2, 2004, when Irwin carried his one-month-old son, Bob, in
his arm whilst hand-feeding a chicken carcass to Murray, a 3.8-metre
(12.5-foot) saltwater crocodile. The infant was close to the crocodile,
and comparisons were made in the press to Michael Jackson's dangling his
son outside a German hotel window.[25] In addition, child welfare
groups, animal rights groups, and some of Irwin's television viewers
criticised his actions as irresponsible and tantamount to child
abuse.[26] Despite public outcry by some in Australia and abroad, Irwin
refused to apologise for the incident. Both he and his wife publicly
stated that Irwin was in complete control of the situation, as he had
dealt with crocodiles since he was a small child, and based on his
lifetime of experience neither he nor his son were in any danger. Terri
Irwin claimed their child was in no more danger than one being taught to
swim. No charges were filed; according to one journalist, Irwin told
officials he would not repeat the action.[27] The incident prompted the
Queensland government to change its crocodile-handling laws, banning
children and untrained adults from entering crocodile enclosures.[28]
In June 2004, allegations were made that he
disturbed wildlife (namely whales, seals and penguins) while filming a
documentary, Ice Breaker, in Antarctica. The matter was subsequently
closed without charges being filed.[29]
Animal Planet released a "Crocodile Hunter"
special called "Confessions of the Crocodile Hunter" which attempted to
explain some of the incidents. This special argues that Irwin's son was
never in danger of being harmed by the crocodile, and that Irwin was no
threat to the animals in Antarctica.
Politics
After questions arose about Irwin being
paid $175,000 worth of taxpayers' money to appear in a television
advertisement and his possible political ties, Irwin told ABC:
I love John Howard, and that's the way I
am. So everyone thinks I'm, like, this diehard Liberal supporter. I'm
not! I'm not. I'm sitting on the fence, mate; I'm a conservationist. I
can't afford to be one way or the other. I just have to run straight up
the middle, mate. I have to get on with whoever's in power. And to tell
you the truth, the best speech that popped up in Parliament House when
George Bush was here was Simon Crean. Here's a bloke who actually
disagreed with Iraq, OK, so he put forward the most eloquent speech,
which really boosted his profile in my eyes. By crikey, I thought, Simon
did the best one there, which is fantastic. So I appreciate good work
when I see it, and that's all it is.[10]
His comments describing John Howard as the
"greatest leader in the world" earned him scorn in the media.[30]
Search and rescue effort in Mexico
In November 2003, Irwin was filming a
documentary on sea lions off the coast of Mexico's Baja California
Peninsula when he heard via his boat's radio that two scuba divers were
reported missing in the area. Irwin and his entire crew suspended
operations to aid in the search. His team's divers searched with the
rescue divers, and Irwin used his vessel to patrol the waters around the
island where the incident occurred, as well as using his satellite
communications system to call in a rescue plane. On the second day of
the search, kayakers found one of the divers, Scott Jones, perched on a
narrow rock ledge jutting out from the side of a cliff. Irwin and a
crewmember escorted him to Irwin's boat. Jones did not recognise his
celebrity rescuer, as he had never seen Irwin on television. The other
lost diver, Katie Vrooman, was found dead by a search plane later the
same day not far from Jones's location.[31]
Sports fan
Having grown up in Essendon, Irwin was a
fan of the Essendon Bombers, an Australian rules football club in the
Australian Football League.[32] Irwin took part in an Australian Rules
football promotion in Los Angeles as part of "Australia Week" in early
2006.[33] After his death, a picture of Irwin wearing a Bombers Guernsey
was shown by ESPN.com in their Bottom 10 ranking of the worst Division
I-A college football teams after Week 1 of the season in tribute to
him.[34]
Living in Queensland most of his life,
Irwin was also a fan of rugby league. As a teenager he played for the
Caloundra Sharks as a second-rower,[35] and as an adult he was known to
be a passionate Brisbane Broncos fan and was involved with the club on
several occasions. On one occasion after turning up to training he asked
if he could tackle the largest player, Shane Webcke. Despite being
thrown to the ground and looking like he'd been crushed he was jovial
about the experience. Irwin laughingly shared the experience with the
Queensland State of Origin squad before the 2006 series[36]. Irwin also
supported rugby union, being a fan of the national team, the Wallabies.
He once wore Wallaby jersey during a demonstration at the zoo. A
behind-the-scenes episode of The Crocodile Hunter showed Irwin and the
crew finding a gas station in a remote part of Namibia to watch the
Wallabies defeat France in the 1999 Rugby World Cup Final. Irwin was
also a talented surfer. [37]
Other personal trivia
Irwin was born on his mother's birthday.[5]
Irwin was particularly interested in
Singapore Zoo, which he considered a sister institution of the Australia
Zoo.[38]
Irwin loved mixed martial arts competitions
and trained with Greg Jackson in the fighting/grappling system of
Gaidojutsu.[39]
Irwin said on an interview for the
Discovery Networks that he would only stop his wildlife conservation
efforts when his children took over the operation, just as Irwin had his
father's center.
In 2004, during an interview with Larry
King, he admitted that he had a fear of parrots, having received many
painful bites from the animals in the past.[5]
In 2005, in an interview for New Idea, he
stated that he was afraid of being killed in a car crash.[40]
Claims that he had joined a church a short
time before his death appear to be urban legend.[41], although Terri
Irwin has stated in an interview that Irwin believed in God.[42]
According to Terri, Sir David Attenborough
was an inspiration to Irwin. When presenting a Lifetime Achievement
Award to Attenborough at the British National Television Awards on
October 31, 2006 she said "If there's one person who directly inspired
my husband it's the person being honoured tonight." she went on to say
"(Steve's) real, true love was conservation - and the influence of
tonight's recipient in preserving the natural world has been
immense."[43] Sir David reciprocated with praising Irwin for introducing
many to the natural world, saying "He taught them how wonderful and
exciting it was, he was a born communicator."[44]
Death
See Wikinews article:
Crocodile Hunter's Steve Irwin dies at
44Shortly after 01:00 UTC (11:00 AEST) on September 4, 2006, Irwin was
fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray spine whilst snorkeling at
the Great Barrier Reef, at Batt Reef, which is located off the coast of
Port Douglas in Queensland. Irwin was in the area filming his own
documentary, Ocean's Deadliest, but weather had stalled filming. Irwin
decided to take the opportunity to film some shallow water shots for a
segment in the television program his daughter Bindi was hosting,[45]
when, according to his friend and colleague, John Stainton, he swam too
close to one of the stingrays. "He came on top of the stingray and the
stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his
heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat the Croc One.
The events were caught on camera, and a
copy of the footage was handed to the Queensland Police.[46] After
reviewing the footage of the incident and speaking to the cameraman who
recorded it, marine documentary filmmaker and former spearfisherman Ben
Cropp speculated that the stingray "felt threatened because Steve was
alongside and there was the cameraman ahead". In such a case, the
stingray responds to danger by automatically flexing the serrated spine
on its tail (which can measure up to 25 cm or about 10 inches in length)
in an upward motion.
Cropp said Irwin had accidentally boxed in
the animal. "It stopped and twisted and threw up its tail with the
spike, and it caught him in the chest. It's a defensive thing. It's like
being stabbed with a dirty dagger". The stinging of Irwin by the bull
ray was "a one-in-a-million thing," Cropp told Time magazine. "I have
swum with many rays, and I have only had one do that to me."[47]
Initially, when Irwin's colleague, John
Stainton, was interviewed by CNN's Larry King late on September 4, 2006
he denied the suggestion that Irwin had pulled the spine out of his
chest, or that he had seen footage of the event, insisting that the
anecdote was "absolute rubbish."[48] The following day, when he first
described the video to the media, he stated, "Steve came over the top of
the ray and the tail came up, and spiked him here [in the chest], and he
pulled it out and the next minute he's gone".[46] It is thought, in the
absence of a coroner's report, that a combination of the toxins and the
puncture wound from the spine caused Irwin to die of cardiac arrest,
with most damage being inflicted by tears to arteries or other main
blood vessels.[49] A similar incident in Florida a month later in which
a man survived a stingray barb through the heart showed that Irwin may
have caused his own death by removing the barb.[50] The coroner's report
has not yet been released.
Crew members aboard his boat called the
emergency services in the nearest city of Cairns and administered CPR as
they rushed the boat to the nearby Low Islets to meet a rescue
helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a
short time later.[45] According to Dr. Ed O'Loughlin, who treated Irwin,
"it became clear fairly soon that he had non-survivable injuries. He had
a penetrating injury to the left front of his chest. He had lost his
pulse and wasn't breathing."[51]
Irwin's body was flown to a morgue in
Cairns. His wife, Terri Irwin, was on a walking tour in Cradle
Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania at the time, and
returned via a private plane from Devonport to the Sunshine Coast with
their two children.[45]
Fatalities due to stingrays are infrequent
but occurrences are not collated.[52] The attack on Irwin is believed to
be the only fatality from a stingray ever captured on film.[53]
There were initial speculations suggesting
the tape of Steve Irwin's death may have been released for broadcast on
television.[54] However, the opposite had also been stated. Stainton
told CNN's Larry King "[The tape] should be destroyed".[55] There have
even been reports that the video was stolen and copied before being
locked up [1]. In an ABC interview with Barbara Walters, Irwin's wife
Terri said she hasn't seen the film of her husband's deadly encounter
with the stingray and that it won't ever be shown on television.[56] On
03 January 2007, the only video footage showing the events that led to
Irwin's death was handed over to Terri, who said that the video would
never become public, and noted her family has not seen the video either.
[57] In an 11 January 2007 interview with Access Hollywood, Terri said
that "all footage has been destroyed." [58]
Production was completed on Ocean's
Deadliest, which will air on the Discovery Channel on January 21, 2007.
The documentary was completed with footage shot before the accident.
According to Stainton, "Anything to do with the day that he died, that
film is not available." [59]
Reaction
News of his death prompted widespread
shock. Australian Prime Minister John Howard expressed his "shock and
distress" at the death, saying that "Australia has lost a wonderful and
colourful son."[60] Queensland Premier Peter Beattie commented in a
Channel Seven television interview that Irwin "will be remembered as not
just a great Queenslander, but a great Australian".[61] Several
Australian news websites went down because of high web traffic and for
the first time the top 10 list of most viewed stories for Fairfax
Digital news sites were swept by one topic.[62] Talk-back radio
experienced a high volume of callers expressing their grief.[63]
The U.S. feed of the Animal Planet cable
television channel aired a special tribute to Steve Irwin that started
on Monday, 4 September 2006. The tribute continued with the Animal
Planet channel showing highlights of Irwin's more than 200 appearances
on Discovery Networks shows.[64] The president of the Discovery Network,
Billy Campbell, released a statement, saying:[65]
Our entire company is deeply saddened by
the tragic and sudden loss of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Steve
was beloved by millions of fans and animal lovers around the world and
was one of our planet's most passionate conservationists. He has graced
our air since October 1996 and was essential in building Animal Planet
into a global brand.
On the evening of his death, Enough Rope
re-broadcast an interview between Irwin and Andrew Denton originally
broadcast in 2003. CNN showed a repeat of his interview on Larry King
Live, originally recorded in 2004. The Australian federal parliament
opened on September 5, 2006 with condolence speeches by both the Prime
Minister John Howard and the Leader of the Opposition Kim Beazley. The
Seven Network aired a television memorial show as a tribute to Irwin on
5 September 2006,[66] as did the Nine Network on September 6, 2006.
Jay Leno delivered a tribute to Irwin,
describing him as a great ambassador of Australia. Irwin appeared on
Leno's talk show on more than ten occasions.[67] There were also
tributes on Live with Regis & Kelly and Barbara Walters' The View; on
the former show, Kelly Ripa came close to tears with her praise of
Irwin.[67]
Hundreds of people visited Australia Zoo to
pay tribute to the deceased entertainer and conservationist. The day
after his death, the volume of people visiting the zoo to pay their
respects affected traffic so much that police reduced the speed limit
around the Glass House Mountains Road and told motorists to expect
delays.[68] BBC reported on September 13, 2006 that thousands of fans
have been to Australia Zoo since Irwin's death, bringing flowers,
candles, stuffed animals and messages of support.[69]
In the weeks after his death, Irwin's
conservation foundation Wildlife Warriors reported that thousands of
people from around the world were offering their support via donations
to the conservation group.
Criticism
Dan Mathews, vice-president of animal
rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said it was
"no shock at all that Steve Irwin should die provoking a dangerous
animal". He added that "Irwin made his career out of antagonising
frightened wild animals, that's a very dangerous message to send to
children." He also made a comparison with another well known
conservationist: "If you compare him with a responsible conservationist
like Jacques Cousteau, he looks like a cheap reality TV star."[70][71]
The son of Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel Cousteau, also a producer of
wildlife documentaries, also took issue with Irwin's hands-on approach
to nature television. Cousteau asserted "You don't touch nature, you
just look at it." Although it "goes very well on television", Irwin's
approach would "interfere with nature, jump on animals, grab them, hold
them, and have this very, very spectacular, dramatic way of presenting
things" which Cousteau felt is "very misleading".[72] Jacques Cousteau's
grandson, Phillipe Cousteau Jr., however, was himself working with Irwin
on the "Ocean's Deadliest" documentary at the time of Irwin's death, and
later described him as "a remarkable individual". Describing their
project, he said, "I think why Steve was so excited about it that we
were looking at these animals that people think of as, you know,
dangerous and deadly monsters, and they're not. They all have an
important place in the environment and in the world. And that was what
his whole message was about." [73]
Backlash against stingrays
In the weeks following Irwin's death, at
least ten stingrays were found dead and mutilated, with their tails cut
off, on the beaches of Queensland, prompting speculation that they had
been killed by fans of Irwin as an act of revenge. Michael Hornby, the
executive director of Irwin's conservation group Wildlife Warriors,
responded by saying that killing stingrays is "the last thing Steve
would want."[74]
Funeral and memorials
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie extended
the offer of a state funeral to Irwin's family, an honour also agreed to
by Prime Minister John Howard. The family decided that such a funeral
wouldn't be appropriate. Steve Irwin's father, Bob Irwin, stated that
his son would not have wanted such an honour, and would want to be
remembered as an "ordinary bloke".[75] Beattie stated he would honour
the decision of the Irwin family regarding their arrangements. Irwin was
farewelled by family and friends at a private funeral service held at
Caloundra on the afternoon of 9 September.[76]The naturalist was buried
in a private ceremony at the zoo on the same day.[69]
Memorial service
A public service was held at the 5,500-seat
Animal Planet Crocoseum at Australia Zoo on Wednesday morning September
20, 2006. The service was broadcast live, commercial free, in the
eastern states of Australia, by free-to-air channels Seven, Nine and the
ABC in Australia, as well as live on subscription channel Sky News
Australia. In addition, it was broadcast live around the world,
particularly the United States, where the service was broadcast
commercial free on Animal Planet, as well as to Asia and Germany. A BBC
camera crew was also sent especially to Australia to cover the memorial
service for the United Kingdom. It is estimated that over 300 million
viewers worldwide watched the service.[77]. The memorial was also
rebroadcast on Animal Planet on January 1st, 2007 as part of their New
Year's Day celebration, and again the following day.
Messages from around the world came from
people including Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Kevin
Costner, Russell Crowe and Larry King. Costner called him a "fearless"
man who was brave enough to let people see him as he was.[78] Crowe said
in his recorded tribute:
We have lost a friend, a champion. It
will take some time to adjust to that.
The Prime Minister John Howard made an
early speech at the service, as did Irwin's father Bob and his daughter
Bindi, who said:
My Daddy was my hero he was always
there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many
things, but most of all he was fun.
I know that Daddy had an important job. He
was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he
did. He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to
give animals a safe place to live.
He took me and my brother and my Mum with
him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and
loved being in the bush together.
I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end. I
want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.
I have the best daddy in the whole world
and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always
think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come
and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life
and now its our turn to help Daddy.
Wes Mannion and John Stainton also made
speeches and David Wenham read a poem.[78] Anthony Field from The
Wiggles partly hosted the service, often sharing the screen with various
animals, from koalas to elephants, and Australian music star John
Williamson sang True Blue, which was Irwin's favourite song. Professor
Craig Franklin of the University of Queensland told the crowd that the
university was about to make Irwin an adjunct professor for his
contributions to the study of crocodiles.[79] In a symbolic finish to
the service, Irwin's truck was loaded up with gear and driven out of the
arena for the last time as Williamson sang.
In a final tribute, Australia Zoo staff
spelled out Irwin's catchphrase "Crikey" in yellow flowers as Irwin's
truck was driven from the "Crocoseum" for the last time to end the
service. Flags on the Sydney Harbour Bridge flew at half mast on the day
of the memorial service.
Other Australian memorials
Several permanent memorials for Irwin have
already been considered or announced. Premier Peter Beattie suggested a
national park be named after Irwin or a permanent memorial might be
constructed in his honour, though the details of the structure would
depend on Irwin's family.[68]
On January 1, 2007, Glasshouse Mountains
Road, the road that runs by Steve and Terri Irwin's Australia Zoo, was
officially renamed to "Steve Irwin Way".[80]
American memorials
Animal Planet will rename the garden in
front of Discovery's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Montgomery
County, Maryland, USA, to the "Steve Irwin Memorial Garden".[65]
Animal Planet is also creating the Steve
Irwin Crocodile Hunter Fund called the "The Crikey Fund" to "provide a
way for people from across the globe to make contributions in Irwin's
honor to support wildlife protection, education and conservation".[65]
Animal Planet also recently ran The
Crocodile Hunter Diaries marathon on air to pay tribute to Irwin.
There is presently a resolution under
consider in the Kentucky General Assembly to make February 22, 2007
Steve Irwin Day in honor of what would have been his 45th birthday. The
text of the bill can be found here:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/07rs/hr22/bill.doc
Controversial memorials
During the 2006 Halloween season, a number
of Americans, including television personality Bill Maher, wore Steve
Irwin costumes (typically consisting of khaki shorts and a matching
short-sleeved shirt with a fake bloody stingray or stingray barb
protruding from the chest) attached[81]. The television show South Park
also depicted Irwin attending a Halloween party hosted by Satan for the
residents of Hell ("Hell on Earth 2006"). He is reprimanded for his
outfit by Satan, who (thinking that he is an ordinary partygoer dressed
as Steve Irwin) admonishes him that the costume is in bad taste, and
that it is too soon to be making fun of Irwin's death. When Satan
realizes that the man is actually Irwin himself, he kicks him out of the
party for not having a costume.
Notes and references
-
^ Biography: Steve Irwin.
The Australian. News Limited (4 September 2006). Retrieved on
2006-09-04.
-
^ Wulff, Jennifer (Sept
18, 2006). "Wild by Nature. (STEVE IRWIN 1962-2006)". People Weekly
66 (12): 60.
-
^ Platt, R: "A Natural
Presenter at One With Nature" The Guardian. 5 September 2006
-
^ Lee, Sandra (18 June
2000). Wild Thing. USA Weekend Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ a b c d King, Larry;
Irwin, Steve (2004-11-25). LARRY KING LIVE Interview With Steve
Irwin. CNN. Cable News Network LP, LLLP. Retrieved on 4 September,
2006.
-
^ The Crocodile
Hunter:Collision Course. Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo, LLC.
-
^ The Crocodile Hunter.
Animax. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
-
^ Trivia for Happy Feet
(2006). IMDB. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
-
^ The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno, 13 January 2006.
-
^ a b Willis, Louise;
Irwin, Steve; Colvin, Mark (2003-11-04). PM - Steve Irwin defends
quarantine ad. ABC. Retrieved on 5 September, 2006.
-
^ Google cache copy of a
Toyota Australia page: Crikey! Steve Irwin loves his Toyotas!
-
^ a b King Murdoch, Anna.
"He's smart, by crikey", The Age, The Age Company Ltd, 10 June 2003.
Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ Elliot, Geoff. "Keep it
simple, mate", The Australian, News Limited, 27 January 2006.Copy at
www.australianmade.com.au
-
^ www.itsanhonour.gov.au
-
^ Crocodile Hunter: Croc
Hunter Wins Top Export Gong, copy of Sunshine Coast Daily article,
originally published 10 December 2004.
-
^ "Irwin defends stunt",
Sydney Morning Herald, 2004-01-06. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ "Irwin was set to be
academic", NEWS.com.au, 2006-09-20. Retrieved on 2006-09-20.
-
^ Denton, Andrew; Irwin,
Steve (2003-10-06). ENOUGH ROPE with Andrew Denton - episode 30:
Steve Irwin. ABC. Retrieved on 4 September, 2006.
-
^ Death of the crocodile
hunter. The First Post (September 4 2006). Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
-
^ Wildlife Warriors: In
the Media 2006, copy of an article from Australian Women's Weekly,
August 2006.
-
^ Tait, Paul
(2006-09-04). Australia stunned by death of "modern-day Noah".
Reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved on 4 September, 2006.
-
^ Elseya irwini.
Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment and
Heritage, Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved on 4 September, 2006.
-
^ Robson, Frank. "Crikey,
it's raw Stevo!", Good Weekend, Sydney Morning Herald, First
published April 2002, republished 2006-09-04. Retrieved on
2006-09-05.
-
^ Reptile Romance. Who
Magazine. Time Inc (2002-11-02). Retrieved on 4 September, 2006.
-
^ Patrick Barkham. "It's
like a part of Australia has died", Guardian Unlimited, 2006-09-05.
Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
-
^ Inquiry into croc baby
stunt. bbc.co.uk. BBC (2004-01-03). Retrieved on 4 September, 2006.
-
^ O'Rourke, Claire. "Croc
hunter ducks for cover", Sydney Morning Herald, 2004-01-05.
Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ "Steve Irwin baby
concerns prompt law change", Sydney Morning Herald, 2005-02-24.
Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ "Irwin cleared after
Penguin Probe", BBC News, 2004-06-15. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ Devine, Miranda.
"Crikey! Praise for PM puts you in a snake pit", The Sun-Herald, The
Sydney Morning Herald, 9 November 2003. Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
-
^ CDNN: Diver remembers
day her scuba buddy died in Baja by Thomas Geyer
-
^ "Steve Irwin" The Times
Online September 5, 2006. URL accessed on 6 September 2006
-
^ AFL Match, Steve Irwin
Show. URL accessed on 5 September 2006
-
^ The Bottom 10: Have a
look at this beauty. ESPN.com (2006-09-06). Retrieved on 2006-09-11.
-
^ Our mate Steve. URL
accessed on 12 September 2006
-
^ Tributes flow for 'true
original'. URL accessed on 12 September 2006
-
^ Surfers invited to pay
tribute (2006-09-06). Retrieved on 2006-11-07.
-
^ Singapore Sling!.
International Crocodile Rescue. Retrieved on 16 March 2006.
-
^ Jackson's Gaidojutsu
Self Defense www.jacksons.tv. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
-
^ Irwin feared fast cars
more than animals. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
-
^ Morris, Linda.
"Christians fed to lyings: Irwin no convert", Sydney Morning Herald,
John Fairfax Holdings, 2006-09-22. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
-
^ "Interview", Woman's
Day (Australia), date=2006-10-09, Australian Consolidated Press.
-
^ "Wildlife legend
honoured", ITN News, ITN, 2006-11-01. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
-
^ "Terri Irwin presents
award to Attenborough", The Australian, News.com.au, 2006-11-02.
Retrieved on 2006-11-03.
-
^ a b c "Croc Hunter
Irwin killed by stingray", THE AGE, 4 September 2006. Retrieved on
2006-09-04.
-
^ a b Gerard, Ian, and
Koch, Tony. "Steve Irwin's freak death filmed", The Australian, 4
September 2006. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ Rory Callinan (4
September 2006). Death of a Crocodile Hunter. Time Magazine.
Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ Crocodile Hunter
Remembered. Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
-
^ Richard Macey.
"Serrated knife-like barb, not toxins, the likely killer", Sydney
Morning Herald, 2006-09-05. Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
-
^ Irwin might have
survived: surgeon. Sydney Morning Herald (2006-10-20). Retrieved on
2006-10-20.
-
^ "Stingray Kills
'Crocodile Hunter'", AOL News, 4 September 2006. Retrieved on
2006-09-04.
-
^ How Deadly Are
Stingrays?. Slate. Washington Post Company (5 September 2006).
Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
-
^ Stingray Deaths Rare
and Agonizing. CNN. Reuters (4 September 2006). Retrieved on
2006-09-04.
-
^ "Crocodile Hunter death
to be broadcast?", Contact Music, 5 September 2006. Retrieved on
2006-09-07.
-
^ "Irwin's dad: 'I lost
my best mate'", CNN, 6 September 2006. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
-
^ "Widow: 'Croc Hunter'
thought he'd die young", CNN. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
-
^ "Steve Irwin death film
given to wife", Yahoo! News, 03 January 2007. Retrieved on
2007-01-04.
-
^ "Video of 'Croc
Hunter's' death destroyed", United Press International, 11 January
2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.
-
^ "Crocodile Hunter's
Last Show Completed", International Business Times, 2007-01-06.
Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
-
^ "Irwin brought joy to
millions: PM", The Australian, 2006-09-04. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ "Irwin family offered
state funeral", The Australian, 2006-09-05. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ Croc Hunter news
consumes the web. theage.com.au (2006-09-05). Retrieved on
2006-09-08.
-
^ Fidler, Richard.
"Tributes flow for Steve Irwin", 612 ABC radio, 2006-09-04.
Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
-
^ Reuters "Discovery
network mourns Irwin, plans tribute"
-
^ a b c Discovery
Communications, Inc. Mourns the Death of TV Host and Conservationist
Steve Irwin. Discovery Communications (2006-09-04). Retrieved on
2006-09-08.
-
^ Seven Network "Yahoo7
TV Tribute to Steve Irwin"
-
^ a b Sydney Morning
Herald "Aussie 'Superman' brings tears to US chat shows"
-
^ a b "Beattie flags
Steve Irwin award, national park", ABC, 2006-09-05. Retrieved on
2006-09-07.
-
^ a b "'Crocoseum'
tribute set for Irwin", BBC, 2006-09-13. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
-
^ AAP. "Irwin's antics 'a
danger to children'", The Age, 2006-09-13. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
-
^ Walls, Jeannette. "PETA
sheds no crocodile tears for Steve Irwin", MSNBC. Retrieved on
2006-09-14.
-
^ "Irwin interfered with
nature, says Cousteau", Sydney Morning Herald, 2006-09-20. Retrieved
on 2006-09-20.
-
^ "Cousteau: Irwin a
'remarkable individual'", CNN, 2006-09-06. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
-
^ "Irwin fans 'in revenge
attacks'", BBC, 2006-09-12. Retrieved on 2006-09-12.
-
^ "Father rejects state
funeral for 'ordinary bloke' son", The Age, 2006-09-07. Retrieved on
2006-09-07.
-
^ Robson, Lou. "Family
says private farewell", The Sunday Mail, 2006-09-10. Retrieved on
2006-09-10.
-
^ "300 Million People To
Watch Steve Irwin Memorial", ecanadanow.com, 2006-09-19. Retrieved
on 2006-09-13.
-
^ a b "Thousands mourn
'Crocodile Hunter'", CNN, 2006-09-20. Retrieved on 2006-09-20.
-
^ "Don't grieve for
Irwin: Father", Herald Sun, 2006-09-19. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
-
^ Steve Irwin gets his
Way {Retrieved 2 January 2007)
-
^ "Crikey! Irwin's a top
Halloween costume", stuff.co.nz, 2006-10-31.
****
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