Steve Irwin
Articles on Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter.Steve Irwin, who died after being stung by a sting-ray on 4 September 2006, was a colorful Australian Conservationist and host of the popular T.V. Series 'The Crocodile Hunter'. Known for his khaki outfits, his exuberant personality, and his much-used phrase 'Crikey', Steve Irwin ran a natural reserve, the Australia Zoo, in Beerwah, Queensland.
Early Life
The Australia Zoo, formerly known as the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, was started by Steve Irwin's parents, Bob and Lyn. Steve Irwin, who was born on 22 February 1962, inherited his passion for the Wildlife from them. He spent his childhood years helping around the Park and became adept at handling crocodiles, snakes, and other animals.
He was schooled at the Caloundra State High School. By the time he graduated from school in 1979, he had already decided he wanted to make a career out of doing what he loved the best, working with wild animals.
Early Career
And so, soon after his graduation, he volunteered for the East Coast Crocodile Management program, run by the Queensland Government. He captured and removed crocodiles that had wandered too dangerously far into urban areas; these captured crocodiles were added to the collection back at the family Park.
In the 1990s, he took over the management of the Park and renamed it Australia Zoo.
Marriage and Family
In 1991, Steve Irwin met Terri Raines, an American tourist on a visit to Australia Zoo. She was from Eugene, Oregon, and shared his passion for animals. They married in June 1992 and went on to have two children, Bindi and Bob.
The Irwins were a very close-knit family and featured together in many of their T.V. Shows.
Celebrity Career
Steve Irwin began his celebrity career in 1992 when he appeared in a T.V. Wildlife show. After he married Terri, the two of them and camera-man John Stainton went off on a crocodile catching trip, and later, in 1996, this film was telecast as the first episode of 'The Crocodile Hunter'.
After finding almost an instantaneous success in Australia, 'The Crocodile Hunter' eventually went on to gain popular appeal in more than 137 countries around the world.
Encouraged by the success of his T.V. Series, Steve Irwin then established the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation and the International Crocodile Rescue. The Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation was afterwards renamed as Wildlife Warriors. Major improvements and additions were made to the Australia Zoo and the Irwins bought large tracts of land around Australia and in the United States with the specific purpose of starting new conservation projects.
Alongside, Steve Irwin found time to appear in a few movies – 'Dr. Doolittle 2', 'The Crocodile Hunter:Collision Course' – and did the voice-dubbing for a seal character in the animated movie 'Happy Feet'.
He appeared on Talk-Shows in Australia and the United States and featured in several documentaries on Animal Planet.
In 2006, he assisted Discovery Kids develop a Wildlife show for children, Jungle Girl, featuring his young daughter Bindi. That same year, he and his family were featured in a Travel Channel documentary series about the family's travels in the course of their wildlife-related work.
Steve Irwin was a keen supporter of both the Australian Tourism Industry, the Australian Quarantine Regulations, and Wildlife Conservation Issues around the world.
Controversies
As a public personality, Steve Irwin was bound to attract his share of controversies. In 2004, the year he was nominated for 'Australian of the Year', he was heavily criticized for holding his baby son Bob in front while feeding a large crocodile. Both Steve Irwin and his wife insisted that their son was in no danger at any time, that Steve had the situation under control all the time. But this explanation did not really appease his critics and the incident even led to the Australian Government's bringing out a new law banning children from crocodile enclosures.
Another point of criticism came from fellow conservationists who questioned his 'hands-on' approach when dealing with wild animals. Grappling or wrestling with animals, they said, gave a very wrong impression to the public.
Irwin also faced flak from critics for his statements supporting the Australian Premier, John Howard.
End
Steve Irwin was just 44 when he died. His family declined offers of a State Funeral and had him buried in a private ceremony at the Australia Zoo.
Early Life
The Australia Zoo, formerly known as the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, was started by Steve Irwin's parents, Bob and Lyn. Steve Irwin, who was born on 22 February 1962, inherited his passion for the Wildlife from them. He spent his childhood years helping around the Park and became adept at handling crocodiles, snakes, and other animals.
He was schooled at the Caloundra State High School. By the time he graduated from school in 1979, he had already decided he wanted to make a career out of doing what he loved the best, working with wild animals.
Early Career
And so, soon after his graduation, he volunteered for the East Coast Crocodile Management program, run by the Queensland Government. He captured and removed crocodiles that had wandered too dangerously far into urban areas; these captured crocodiles were added to the collection back at the family Park.
In the 1990s, he took over the management of the Park and renamed it Australia Zoo.
Marriage and Family
In 1991, Steve Irwin met Terri Raines, an American tourist on a visit to Australia Zoo. She was from Eugene, Oregon, and shared his passion for animals. They married in June 1992 and went on to have two children, Bindi and Bob.
The Irwins were a very close-knit family and featured together in many of their T.V. Shows.
Celebrity Career
Steve Irwin began his celebrity career in 1992 when he appeared in a T.V. Wildlife show. After he married Terri, the two of them and camera-man John Stainton went off on a crocodile catching trip, and later, in 1996, this film was telecast as the first episode of 'The Crocodile Hunter'.
After finding almost an instantaneous success in Australia, 'The Crocodile Hunter' eventually went on to gain popular appeal in more than 137 countries around the world.
Encouraged by the success of his T.V. Series, Steve Irwin then established the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation and the International Crocodile Rescue. The Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation was afterwards renamed as Wildlife Warriors. Major improvements and additions were made to the Australia Zoo and the Irwins bought large tracts of land around Australia and in the United States with the specific purpose of starting new conservation projects.
Alongside, Steve Irwin found time to appear in a few movies – 'Dr. Doolittle 2', 'The Crocodile Hunter:Collision Course' – and did the voice-dubbing for a seal character in the animated movie 'Happy Feet'.
He appeared on Talk-Shows in Australia and the United States and featured in several documentaries on Animal Planet.
In 2006, he assisted Discovery Kids develop a Wildlife show for children, Jungle Girl, featuring his young daughter Bindi. That same year, he and his family were featured in a Travel Channel documentary series about the family's travels in the course of their wildlife-related work.
Steve Irwin was a keen supporter of both the Australian Tourism Industry, the Australian Quarantine Regulations, and Wildlife Conservation Issues around the world.
Controversies
As a public personality, Steve Irwin was bound to attract his share of controversies. In 2004, the year he was nominated for 'Australian of the Year', he was heavily criticized for holding his baby son Bob in front while feeding a large crocodile. Both Steve Irwin and his wife insisted that their son was in no danger at any time, that Steve had the situation under control all the time. But this explanation did not really appease his critics and the incident even led to the Australian Government's bringing out a new law banning children from crocodile enclosures.
Another point of criticism came from fellow conservationists who questioned his 'hands-on' approach when dealing with wild animals. Grappling or wrestling with animals, they said, gave a very wrong impression to the public.
Irwin also faced flak from critics for his statements supporting the Australian Premier, John Howard.
End
Steve Irwin was just 44 when he died. His family declined offers of a State Funeral and had him buried in a private ceremony at the Australia Zoo.
The Crocodile Hunter
Steve Irwin was not only an enthusiastic conservationist, he was also a person that loved his country, he promoted tourism and again he did it in such a way that it was one of those things that you could hardly wait to do. He liked to surf and he also liked rugby...but I think what he loved most of all were his animals.
"Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin Killed by Stingray in Australia
One of Australia’s favorite sons, Steve Irwin, was killed by the barb of a stingray Monday while filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.
Steve Irwin was not only an enthusiastic conservationist, he was also a person that loved his country, he promoted tourism and again he did it in such a way that it was one of those things that you could hardly wait to do. He liked to surf and he also liked rugby...but I think what he loved most of all were his animals.
"Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin Killed by Stingray in Australia
One of Australia’s favorite sons, Steve Irwin, was killed by the barb of a stingray Monday while filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.