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Steve Irwin

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File:Steve-Irwin.jpg
Steve Irwin.

Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin (22 February 1962 – 4 September 2006) was the owner and manager of the Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Queensland, Australia. He was best known as The Crocodile Hunter, which was the name of the unconventional nature documentary series on television he hosts, assisted by his American-born wife, Terri Irwin. His larger-than-life persona and seemingly outrageous antics (including the close handling of both common and rare species of wildlife and, perhaps most famously, the capture of live crocodiles and other reptiles on-screen) were key features in the presentation, which provided a forum for educational information about wildlife conservation and conflicts with humans in various parts of the world. The program has made the Irwins television personalities on several continents.

Steve Irwin reportedly died in an accident involving a stingray barb while filming an underwater documentary in the Batt Reef off the Low Isles at Port Douglas, near Cairns in Australia.

Biography

Born in the Melbourne area, Steve Irwin moved with his parents as a child to Queensland. His parents, Bob and Lyn, ran the small Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, where Steve grew up around crocodiles and other reptiles. He became a crocodile trapper, removing crocodiles from near populated areas, performing the service for free with the quid pro quo that he kept them for the park. As a child, he had a negative encounter with a macaw, and still retains some fear of parrots.

In 1991, he took over the running of the park, now renamed the "Australia Zoo", and in 1992 met (at the park) and married Terri. The footage, shot by John Stainton, of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter, which became wildly successful in America.

In 2001, Steve appeared in a cameo role in the Eddie Murphy film Dr. Dolittle 2. In 2002, his first feature film, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, was released. In general, reviews of this film were negative. However, in 2003, Irwin was reportedly in line to host a chat show on Australian network television.

The Irwins have two children: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born 24 July 1998), and a son, Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin (born 1 December 2003). Their dog, Sui, from which their daughter's middle name was derived, died in June 2004.

Under Steve's expansive leadership, the operations have grown to include the zoo, the television series, The Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, and International Crocodile Rescue. Improvements to his Australia Zoo include the Animal Planet Crocoseum, the rainforest aviary, and Tiger Temple.

Major controversy arose during a public show on 2 January 2004, when Irwin carried his infant son, Bob, in one arm while feeding a chicken carcass to a crocodile with the other hand. The infant was close to the crocodile, and comparisons were made in the press with Michael Jackson's dangling of his son outside a German apartment window. In addition, child welfare groups, animal rights groups, and many of Irwin's television viewers criticised his actions as being irresponsible and tantamount to child abuse. Irwin claimed that any danger to his son was only a perceived danger and that he was in complete control of the situation, and has consistently refused to apologize for his actions despite considerable public outcry both in Australia and abroad. His defenders pointed to his several decades of hands-on experience and direct interaction with crocodiles. Terri Irwin claimed that their child was in no more real danger than a child being taught to swim would be. No charges were filed (although the police did visit Irwin at his home and advised him not to repeat the incident).

Irwin went on to star in other Animal Planet documentaries, including The Croc Files, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and New Breed Vets.

In June 2004, Irwin again was the subject of controversy when allegations were made that he came too close to and disturbed some wildlife (namely whales, seals and penguins) while filming a documentary in Antarctica. Interacting with Antarctic wildlife in a disapproved manner may be a breach of Australian federal and international laws. Subsequently, the matter was closed without charges being filed.

Animal Planet then released a Crocodile Hunter special called "Crocodiles & Controversy", which attempted to explain both the "Baby Bob Incident" and the Antarctica incident. This special argues that Irwin's son was never in danger of being eaten by the crocodile and that Irwin could not have endangered animals in Antarctica.

Eventually Animal Planet ended The Crocodile Hunter with a series finale entitled "Steve's Last Adventure". The last Crocodile Hunter documentary went for three emotional hours with footage of Steve's across-the-world adventure, visiting locations like the Himalayas, the Yangtze River, Borneo, and the Kruger National Park.

Steve feeding a crocodile at Australia Zoo.

In January 2006 as part of Australia Week celebrations in the USA, Steve appeared at the Pauley Pavilion, UCLA Los Angeles, California. During an interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Steve announced that Discovery Kids will be developing a show for his daughter, Bindi Sue. 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 Steve, and he features in it heavily with his wife and daughter. The show includes the song "Crocodile Hunter, Big Steve Irwin".

On Saturday June 24, 2006, one of the oldest turtles living in Steve Irwin's Australian Zoo, died of heart failure. The turtle, named Harriet, was 176 years old and was considered part of Irwin's family. Harriet was thought to have belonged to Charles Darwin.

Steve Irwin was active in politics and was a supporter of the conservative Liberal Party of Australia. In particular, he strongly supported the incumbent Prime Minister John Howard.

Death

On Monday September 4, 2006, Steve Irwin was killed by a Stingray barb that punctured his chest, whilst filming a documentary off the Low Isles, Queensland.

The Crocodile Hunter Documentaries

The following is a list of Crocodile Hunter documentaries and episodes, ordered by number

  • The Crocodile Hunter
  • The Crocodile Hunter Part Two
  • The Crocodile Hunter Part Three
  • The Crocodile Hunter Goes West Part One
  • The Crocodile Hunter Goes West Part Two
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Traveling The Dingo Fence Part One
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Traveling The Dingo Fence Part Two
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Suburban Killers
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Return To The Wild
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Africa's Deadliest Snakes
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Dangerous Africans
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Dangerous Americans
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Spitting Cobras Of The World
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Surfing Snakes
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Ghosts Of War
  • The Crocodile Hunter - A Handful Of Elephants
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Wild River Of Africa
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Faces In The Forest
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Island Of Time
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Steve & The Dragon
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Australia's Wild Frontier
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Crocodiles Of The Revolution
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Graham's Revenge
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Bunya Rescue
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Zoo Evolution
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Story
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Most Dangerous Adventures
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Greatest Crocodile Captures
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Captured On Camera
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Wildest Home Videos
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Big Croc Diaries
  • The Crocodile Hunter - River Of The Damed
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Crocs In The City
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Penguins In The City
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Island Of Snakes
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Whale Shales Of The Wild West
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Phantoms Of The Rainforest
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Alligators In Love
  • The Crocodile Hunter - They Shoot Crocodiles Don't They
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Leopards Of The Himalayas
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Africa's Big Five
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Singapore Safari
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Adventure With David Attenborough
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Ice Breaker
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Crocodiles & Controversy
  • The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Last Adventure - Series Final

The Crocodile Hunter Diaries Episodes

  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Steve's Birthday
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Dancing With Devils
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - New Zoo
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - New Arrivals
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Wild Boys, Wild Crocs
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Girls Catch Crocs Too
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Mateship
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - John Farnham's Holiday
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Operation Sui
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Mary's Farewell
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Wiggly Safari (featuring The Wiggles)
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Kelly's Big Day
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Celebrities & Practical Jokes
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Wild About Harry
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Celebrities & Practical Jokes 2
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Backstage Bedlam
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Behind 'Croc Live'
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Celebrities & Practical Jokes 3
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Crocoseum
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Elephants Down Under
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Tigers Live
  • The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Last Entry - Series Final

Trivia

References

  1. ^ "Steve Irwin Dead" in the Courier-Mail
  2. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 13 January 2006.
  3. "Singapore Sling!". International Crocodile Rescue. Retrieved 16 March. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)


External links

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