The Purpose of this biography is to expand some of the audience’s knowledge about one of the world’s most influential conservationists, Steve Irwin. The world views him as a man in the outback jumping on the backs of crocodiles, wrangling the world’s deadliest snakes, and swimming with the fiercest sharks. There is so much more than just the crocs, snakes, khaki shorts, and the ozzie catch-phrases that he is widely known for. He and his accomplishments were truly remarkable. We will explore the life, talents, achievements, family, and personal views of “The Crocodile Hunter”Steve was born On February 22, 1962 to Robert and Lyn Irwin. In his early years he lived on the same enthusiasm and taste for adventure that the public sees. “If I couldn’t see him, he was either on the roof or up some tree” his mother remarked. He grew up with animals, and his father taught him all he knew about the circle of life, nature, and the science of the animals he dealt with. At age 6 he received a 12ft. scrub python for his birthday, and jumped his first crocodile and age 9. His family started a small reptile park, which later turned into one of the most popular zoos on earth, “The Australia zoo”. The zoo was eventually handed down to Steve, who ran it for the rest of his life.
He and his life-long friend Wes Mannion spent their teenage years in the wilderness saving and relocating “problem crocs”, working on the reptile park, and performing countless animal rescues together; “Crikey I’d die for that man” Steve said. He and Wes were “best mates” up until Steve’s death.
Stevemet his future wife, Terri Rains when she visited the small reptile park, after one of his crocodile shows. “This man was on fire with enthusiasm, and I felt like I really connected with him, like I was meeting a kindred spirit.” Terri remarked. After courting and working together on the zoo, they were married on June 4, 1992. They spent their honey moon filming and catching crocodiles. It was a perfect match, “My honeymoon was with a film crew! Jumping and catching crocodiles in mosquito infested swamps of North Queensland!” Steve remarked with a glowing passion and love for his wife.
Steve was devoted to his family, and wanted to teach and give all he had to his children before he left this life. He always made sure to include his children in every adventure they ever had. Bindi and Robert were taught at an early age to respect and cherish animals like he did. The kids as young as two years old were catching lizards in the forests, and approaching elk in the Rockies. He was willing to give up all he had to give his children what his father gave him. Steve remarked with tears in his eyes, “When they are ready to run up our mission, I will gladly step aside, and I guarantee you it will be the proudest moment of my life.”
One of the most devastating events in Steve’s life was losing his mother to a car accident on February 11, 2000. He was incredibly close to her and was hit incredibly hard when she passed away. Steve said, “Way, way back in February of 1962 I was born right fair smack on my Mum's 20th birthday. Crikey! A birthday present she'll never forget. The umbilical cord of our souls was never cut; to this very day I am connected to my Mum. I cry for her now, I'll cry for her forever… the pain of losing my Mum is unbearable and relentless. There is no medication - just tears. I am crying so hard writing this that the paper on which I write is saturated. Oh God this hurts. My daughter Bindi came in one door as you went out another. My son baby Bob will never know you - here is real, fair dinkum pain.”
Steve’s career in filmmaking basically started out as he, Terri, and a few cameramen jumping around the outback capturing local wildlife and explaining its natural history. His show aired on a local Australian television station as The Crocodile Hunter. After a few years the show aired on Discovery Channel’s ‘Animal Planet’ where it exploded in popularity. Pretty soon Steve starred and was seen on various television shows and movies such as The Jay Leno show, Happy Feet, Dr. Doolittle 2, and The Wiggles. Along with some of his own productions that include Croc Diaries, Bindi: The Jungle Girl and the movie Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course. Steve and Terri used all of their publicity and fame to protect the natural world. Everything they earned went back to conservation. They developed the zoo, purchased land for animal refuges, and endorsed various conservation efforts. Publicity and fame never changed who Steve was; he never stopped being the enthusiastic, beaming man that he always was from the start of his life. His father said, “I can honestly say that catching crocodiles with Steve now is exactly the same as when we used to 20 years ago”
Steve Encountered quite a bit of criticism along with his shows and “stunts”. He was accused of exploiting the animals he worked with, and that he only cared for the tourism, when his really motives were conservation. He also received a lot of controversy about the “Baby Bob Incident” when he was holding his month-old infant in his arms while feeding a crocodile during one of his crocodile demonstrations. Steve and Terri explained that they had full control of the situation and there was no danger, and no charges were pressed towards the Irwin family.
On September 4, 2006 disaster struck, while filming the new series Ocean’s Deadliest on the Batt Reef of North Queensland. Weather had stalled the filming of the original show, so Steve went out [to take some footage] for his daughter’s show; he approached a stingray, and out of defense the stingray fatally struck him in the chest. Because of the stingray’s venom, and the deadly barb hitting him in the major arteries, he died of cardiac arrest. Steve’s friend and producer told Larry King on Larry King Live, “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.” Steve’s crew immediately called for an emergency helicopter, but it was too late for him to be saved, he was pronounced dead before medical help arrived. The horrible incident was caught on film, however after local police viewed the footage, it was given to Terri. Although false videos and pictures have been published all over the internet, in reality she refused to allow the disturbing footage of his husband’s death to be shown to the public and later destroyed the tape.
The reaction to Steve’s death was tremendous; people around the world mourned his passing, “Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son.” Australia’s prime minister stated. Thousands of people from all around came to visit the zoo and pay tribute to the Irwins. There were even reports of killed and mangled stingrays on the beaches of Queensland that were suspected to be revenge killings; however this was condemned by Steve’s family and friends. Steve’s death has also motivated many people all around the world to protect the world’s wildlife, and to follow his footsteps as influential conservationists. There have been numerous funds in Steve’s honor towards wildlife and conservation; his dream to protect the earth’s nature is still being fulfilled.
The Crocodile Hunter and various other television programs are still being shown on television, and his conservation funds are still being run by Terri and family members. It seems as if he is still alive and wrangling crocs today. People today still mourn over the loss of Steve; the numbers of tributes and memorials still increase all over the media and internet, and various zoos such as Utah’s Hogle Zoo have combined to raise funds to protect wildlife in his honor.
Steve will always be remembered for his enthusiasm, and his open-spiritedness. He affected people in a way that no one else has, he never had an official degree, but he did what the smartest of biologists and conservationists could never do; he had the talent of touching people’s hearts enough to make people love things as un-loveable as snakes, spiders, and snakes. He didn’t do it for the wealth, media, and fame that he received, but only for his wildlife and his family; his acts were completely selfless. Many people disliked his style of appearance on television, but it should never be forgotten that he did all he could to make wildlife and nature stand out enough to make people want to save it. He truly was devoted to his mission in life; he said "I have a message for my fans. Whatever you want to do in this world, it is achievable. The most important thing that I've found, that perhaps you could use, is be passionate and enthusiastic in the direction that you choose in life, and you'll be a winner."
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