Stephen Robert Irwin
Steve Irwin in Australia
Born	22 February 1962(1962-02-22) Essendon, Victoria, Australia
Died	4 September 2006 (aged 44) Batt Reef, Queensland, Australia
Occupation	Naturalist Zoologist Conservationist Television Personality
Spouse	Terri Irwin
Children	Bindi Sue Irwin Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin
Website CrocodileHunter.com.au

Stephen Robert Irwin (February 22, 1962 – September 4, 2006), known simply as Steve Irwin and nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an iconic Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Essendon is a Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Natural history is the Scientific research of Plants or Animals leaning more towards the Observational than Experimental methods Zoology (from Greek ζῷον, zoon, "animal" + λόγος, " Logos " "knowledge" is the branch of The conservation movement also known as nature conservation is a political social and to some extent scientific movement that seeks to protect natural resources including A nature documentary is a Documentary film about Animals Plants or other non-human living creatures usually concentrating on film taken in their natural Theresa Penelope Irwin (nee Raines AM (born July 20, 1964) is an American -born naturalist, Author, the widow of Australian Bindi Sue Irwin (born July 24, 1998 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia) is the daughter of late wildlife Conservationist Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. 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. The Crocodile Hunter was a wildlife A nature documentary is a Documentary film about Animals Plants or other non-human living creatures usually concentrating on film taken in their natural Theresa Penelope Irwin (nee Raines AM (born July 20, 1964) is an American -born naturalist, Author, the widow of Australian Together, they also co-owned and operated Australia Zoo, founded by his parents in Beerwah, Queensland. Australia Zoo is located in the Australian state of Queensland on the Sunshine Coast near Beerwah / Glass House Mountains. Beerwah (ˈbɪərwɑː ( is a town on the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent He died in 2006 after his chest was fatally pierced by a stingray barb while filming in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The chest is a part of the Anatomy of humans and various other animals sometimes referred to as the Thorax. Dasyatidae is a family of rays, cartilaginous marine Fishes related to Skates and Sharks Dasyatids are common in tropical

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship MV Steve Irwin was named in his honour, christened by his wife Terri, who said "If Steve were alive, he'd be aboard with them!"

Contents 1 Early years of life 2 Career 2.1 Rise to fame 2.2 Film 2.3 Animal Planet and later projects 2.4 Media work 2.5 Honours 2.6 Environmentalism 3 Filmography 4 Personal life 4.1 Family 4.2 Controversies 4.3 Politics 4.4 Search and rescue effort in Mexico 4.5 Sports fan 4.6 Other personal trivia 5 Death 5.1 Reaction 5.2 Backlash against stingrays 6 Funeral and memorials 6.1 Memorial service 6.2 Other Australian memorials 6.3 American memorials 6.4 Indian memorial 6.5 Death anniversary 7 Criticism 8 See also 9 Notes and references 10 External links

Early years of life

Born on his mother's birthday^[1] to Lyn and Bob Irwin in Essendon, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Irwin moved with his parents as a child to Queensland in 1970. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Registration problems Like Sea Shepherd's other vessel the RV ''Farley Mowat'', Steve Irwin has had issues with its registration Bob Irwin (born c 1939/1940 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian naturalist, animal Conservationist, and a pioneering Essendon is a Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Irwin described his father as a wildlife expert interested in herpetology whilst his mother Lyn was a wildlife rehabilitator. Herpetology (from Greek: ἑρπετόν herpeton, "creeping animal" and λόγος logos, "knowledge" is the branch of Zoology Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants animals and other organisms 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. A crocodile is any Species belonging to the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the Subfamily Crocodylinae) Reptiles, or members of the class Reptilia are air-breathing Cold-blooded Vertebrates that have skin covered in scales as opposed to hair or feathers

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 (4 m) scrub python. Common names amethystine python scrub python Morelia amethistina is a non-venomous python Species found He began handling crocodiles at the age of nine after his father had educated him on reptiles from an early age. ^[2] Also at age nine he wrestled his first crocodile, again under his father's supervision. ^[3] 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. The activity of animal trapping has two separate but related meanings He performed the service for free with the quid pro quo that he be allowed to keep them for the park. Quid pro quo ( Latin for "something for something") indicates a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services 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 Steve. 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, whilst performing a demonstration. Theresa Penelope Irwin (nee Raines AM (born July 20, 1964) is an American -born naturalist, Author, the widow of Australian The two married in June 1992, in Terri's hometown of Eugene, Oregon. The city of Eugene ( "yoo-JEEN") is the County seat of Lane County, Oregon, Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The footage, shot by John Stainton, of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. John Stainton is a motion picture film artist (director and producer A honeymoon is the traditional holiday taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage in intimacy and seclusion 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. ^[4] In 1998, he continued, working with producer and director Mark Strickson, to present The Ten Deadliest Snakes in the World. Mark Strickson (born 1961 in Stratford-upon-Avon) is a British Actor best known for his roles as the character By 1999, he had become very popular in the United States, making his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show currently hosted by Jay Leno, on 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. Australian English ( AuE, AusE, en-AU) is the form of the English language used in Australia. This article is about the fabric. For the colour see Khaki (color. A catch phrase (or catchphrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance ^[5] Sir David Attenborough praised Irwin for introducing many to the natural world, saying "He taught them how wonderful and exciting it was, he was a born communicator. Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS (born 8 May 1926 in London, England "^[6]

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. Wildlife Warriors, originally called the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation is a Conservationist organization that was established in 2002 by Steve Irwin 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. Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. ^[1]

Film

In 2001, Irwin appeared in a cameo role in the Eddie Murphy film Dr. Dolittle 2, in which a crocodile warns Dolittle that he knows Irwin is going to grab him and is prepared to attack when he does, but Dolittle fails to warn Irwin in time. A cameo role or cameo appearance (often shortened to just cameo) is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the Performing arts, such as Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy (born April 3 1961 is an Academy Award -nominated Golden Globe - Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Dr Dolittle 2 is an American Comedy film, the theatrical sequel to Dr Irwin's only starring feature film role was in 2002's The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, which was released to mixed reviews. The Crocodile Hunter Collision Course is a 2002 Australian comedy - Adventure film based on the Nature documentary In the film Irwin (who portrayed himself and performed numerous stunts) mistakes some CIA agents for poachers. near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all He sets out to stop them from capturing a crocodile, which, unknown to him, has actually swallowed a tracking transmitter. A Tracking transmitter broadcasts a Radio signal which can be detected by a Directional antenna (typically a Radio Direction Finder. The film won the Best Family Feature Film award for a comedy film at the Young Artist Awards. The Young Artist Awards are presented yearly by the Young Artist Foundation The film was produced on a budget of about $12 million, and has grossed $33 million. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been ^[7] To promote the film, Irwin was featured in an animated short produced by Animax Entertainment for Intermix. Animax Entertainment is an Emmy Award winning Animation studio based in Van Nuys California that focuses on creating fun character driven experiences for ^[8]

In 2002, the Irwins appeared in the Wiggles video/DVD release Wiggly Safari, which was set in Irwin's Australia Zoo. The Wiggles are a children's musical group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991 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 2006, Irwin provided his voice for the 2006 animated film Happy Feet, as an elephant seal named Trev. The bouncing ball animation (below consists of these 6 frames Happy Feet is an Australian -produced 2006 computer-animated Comedy-drama musical Film, directed and co-written The Southern Elephant Seal ( Mirounga leonina) is one of two Species of Elephant seal. The film was dedicated to Irwin, as he died during post-production. ^[9] Another, previously incomplete scene, featuring Steve providing the voice of an Albatross and essentially playing himself, was restored to the DVD release.

Animal Planet and later projects

Animal Planet ended The Crocodile Hunter with a series finale entitled "Steve's Last Adventure. Animal Planet is an American Satellite and Cable Television channel (also broadcast via IPTV in the UK) launched on " 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. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. Kruger National Park is the largest Game reserve in South Africa. Irwin went on to star in other Animal Planet documentaries, including The Croc Files, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and New Breed Vets. Croc Files (also known as The Crocodile Hunter's Croc Files) is a Wildlife documentary television series focusing on Crocodiles The Crocodile Hunter Diaries is a Wildlife documentary television series first aired on cable TV channel Animal Planet.

As a part of the United States' "Australia Week" celebrations in January 2006, Irwin appeared at the Pauley Pavilion, UCLA in Los Angeles, California. Edwin W Pauley Pavilion, informally and commonly known as Pauley Pavilion, is an indoor arena located on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles California The University of California Los Angeles (generally known as UCLA) is a public research university located in Westwood Los Angeles, California, United Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. 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. Discovery Kids is an American Digital cable Television channel, owned by Discovery Communications with programming for Education of Bindi Sue Irwin (born July 24, 1998 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia) is the daughter of late wildlife Conservationist ^[10] The show, Jungle Girl, was tipped to be similar to The Wiggles movies, with songs that surround a story. The Wiggles are a children's musical group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991 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 Wiggles are a children's musical group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991 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. The Travel Channel is a Cable television network that features

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". The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS is the Australian government agency responsible for enforcing Australian Quarantine laws For other uses see Quarantine (disambiguation Quarantine is voluntary or compulsory isolation typically to contain the spread of something Customs is an Authority or agency in a Country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods His payments for these advertising campaigns were directed into his wildlife fund. ^[11]

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. Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia with a Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. For some time he was sponsored by Toyota. (pronounced) is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Japan, and is currently the world's largest Automaker. ^[12]

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. ^[13] His immense popularity in the United States meant he often promoted Australia as a tourist destination there. ^[14]

Honours

In 2001, Irwin was awarded the Centenary Medal for his "service to global conservation and to Australian tourism". The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. ^[15] In 2004, he was recognised as Tourism Export of the Year. ^[16] He was also nominated in 2004 for Australian of the Year, an honour which was won by Australian Cricket Captain Steve Waugh. The Australian of the Year Awards commenced in 1960. From nominations received Australia Day Committees in each state and territory select several finalists Stephen Rodger Waugh, AO (born 2 June 1965 in Canterbury New South Wales) is a former Australian cricketer and fraternal twin of Mark Waugh Shortly before his death, he was to be named an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland's School of Integrative Biology. The University of Queensland (UQ is one of Australia's premier learning and research institutions ^[17] On 14 November 2007 Irwin was awarded the adjunct professorship posthumously by the University of Queensland. ^[18] In May 2007, the Rwandan Government announced that it would name a baby gorilla after Steve Irwin as a tribute to his work in wildlife conservation. ^[19] The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary was named by the Kerala government after late Steve Irwin. ^[20].

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. Wildlife Warriors, originally called the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation is a Conservationist organization that was established in 2002 by Steve Irwin The conservation movement also known as nature conservation is a political social and to some extent scientific movement that seeks to protect natural resources including Environmentalism is a broad philosophy and Social movement centered on a concern for the conservation and improvement of the environment. He was concerned with conservation of endangered animals and land clearing leading to loss of habitat. An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation Deforestation is the conversion of Forested areas to non-forest land for use such as Arable land, Pasture, urban use logged area or wasteland 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. "^[13] 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. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu ( French: République de Vanuatu, Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu) is an Island Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A national park is a reserve of land usually declared and owned by a national Government, protected from most Human development and pollution ^[21]

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. Poaching is the illegal Hunting, Fishing or Harvesting of wild plants or animals Shark fin soup (or shark's fin soup) is a Chinese cuisine Delicacy since Ming Dynasty, commonly served as part of a Chinese feast, ^[22]

He founded the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, which was later renamed Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, and became an independent charity. The definition of charitable organization, and of charity varies according to the country and in some instances the region of the country in which the charitable organization operates 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. A chief executive officer ( CEO) or chief executive is typically the highest-ranking corporate officer ( executive) or administrator The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Australia (RSPCA is an organisation in Australia that promotes animal welfare Noah (or Noe, Noach;; Nūḥ; Arabic: نوح; "Rest") was according to the Bible, the tenth and last of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located David J Bellamy OBE (born 18 January 1933) is an English Botanist, Author, broadcaster, and environmental Natural history is the Scientific research of Plants or Animals leaning more towards the Observational than Experimental methods ^[23] Irwin and his father 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. Irwin's Turtle, ( Elseya irwini) is a species of Australian Turtle. ^[24]

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 (who was in a fatal car crash in 2000), 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 to the problems Australia faces as a continent. Conservation in Australia is an issue of state and federal policy

In response to questions of Australia's problems with overgrazing, salinity, and erosion, Irwin responded, "Cows have been on our land for so long that Australia has evolved to handle those big animals. Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to Livestock Grazing for extended periods of time or without sufficient recovery periods Soil salinity and Dryland salinity are two problems degrading the Environment of Australia. Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind " 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". ^[25]

According to Terri, Sir David Attenborough was an inspiration to Irwin. When presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to Attenborough after Irwin's death at the British National Television Awards on October 31, 2006 Terri stated "If there's one person who directly inspired my husband it's the person being honoured tonight. An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize Excellence in a certain field a certificate of excellence The National Television Awards is a British Television awards ceremony sponsored by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. " 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. "^[26] 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. "^[6]

Filmography

• Dr. Dolittle 2 (cameo) (2001)
• The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002)
• Happy Feet (2006)

Personal life

Family

In 1992, Irwin married Terri Raines from Eugene, Oregon, United States. Dr Dolittle 2 is an American Comedy film, the theatrical sequel to Dr Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The Crocodile Hunter Collision Course is a 2002 Australian comedy - Adventure film based on the Nature documentary See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Happy Feet is an Australian -produced 2006 computer-animated Comedy-drama musical Film, directed and co-written Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** Theresa Penelope Irwin (nee Raines AM (born July 20, 1964) is an American -born naturalist, Author, the widow of Australian The city of Eugene ( "yoo-JEEN") is the County seat of Lane County, Oregon, Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The pair had met a few months earlier, when Terri had visited the zoo on a holiday; according to both of them, it was love at first sight. Love at first sight is an emotional condition whereby a person feels romantic attraction for a stranger on the first encounter with the stranger Terri said 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. "^[27] Together they had two children: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born July 24, 1998), and a son, Robert Clarence "Bob" (named after Irwin's father) Irwin (born December 1, 2003). Bindi Sue Irwin (born July 24, 1998 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia) is the daughter of late wildlife Conservationist Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. 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. The saltwater or estuarine crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus) is the largest of all living Crocodilians and Reptiles It is found in suitable http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaWikiProject_Dog_breeds#Infobox_Dogbreed_template for full

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. "^[1]

Terri Irwin recently reported that Steve had an ongoing premonition that he would die before he reached age 40. ^[28] She wrote about this in her book Steve and Me about their lives together. ^[29]

Controversies

A controversial incident occurred 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. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " 8-metre (12 ft 6 in) 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. Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29 1958 is an American musician entertainer and businessman ^[30] 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. "Animal liberation" redirects here for other uses see Animal liberation (disambiguation. Child abuse is the physical, psychological or sexual maltreatment of children ^[31] Irwin apologised on the US NBC Today Show. ^[32] 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. He also showed footage of the event shot from a different angle, demonstrating that they were much further from the crocodile than they had appeared in the publicised clip. ^[33] 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. ^[34] The incident prompted the Queensland government to change its crocodile-handling laws, banning children and untrained adults from entering crocodile enclosures. ^[35]

In June 2004, allegations were made that he disturbed wildlife (namely whales, seals and penguins) whilst filming a documentary, Ice Breaker, in Antarctica. Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas For other uses of the term "sea lion" see Sea lion (disambiguation. Penguins ( order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless Birds living almost Ice Breaker is the name of a 2005 documentary set in the Arctic. The matter was subsequently closed without charges being filed. ^[36]

After Irwin's death, the vessel MV Robert Hunter owned by the environmental action group Sea Shepherd was renamed MV Steve Irwin in Steve's honor. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Registration problems Like Sea Shepherd's other vessel the RV ''Farley Mowat'', Steve Irwin has had issues with its registration ^[37] Sea Shepherd is a controversial^{[38] [39]} environmentalist group that conducts direct action operations including the sinking of whaling ships, to protect marine species and environments. Shortly before his death, Irwin had been investigating joining their 2007/08 voyage to Antarctica to disrupt Japanese whaling activity. Following his death, as an alternative the renaming of the vessel was suggested by Sea Shepherd and endorsed by his widow Terri. ^[40]

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 that he was a conservationist and did not choose sides in politics. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly abbreviated to the 'ABC' is Australia's national public broadcaster.

His comments describing Australian Prime Minister John Howard as the "greatest leader in the world" earned him scorn in the media. See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March ^[41]

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. For other uses of the term "sea lion" see Sea lion (disambiguation. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Baja California peninsula ( English: Lower California peninsula) is a Peninsula in western Mexico. Scuba diving is swimming underwater, or taking part in another activity while using a Scuba set. 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. A kayak is a small human-powered Boat. It typically has a covered deck and a cockpit covered by a Spraydeck. 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' location. ^[42]

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. Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club and is part of the Australian Football League. Australian (rules football, or simply known as football, footy or Aussie rules, is a Team sport played between two teams of 18 players The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest ^[43] Irwin took part in an Australian Rules football promotion in Los Angeles as part of "Australia Week" in early 2006. ^[44] 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 FBS college football teams after Week 1 of the season in tribute to him. ESPNcom is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc Division I (or D-I) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States College football is American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, Colleges and military academies ^[45]

Like many Australians, he was a big cricket fan. This was seen during his visit to Sri Lanka where he played cricket with some local kids and saying "I love cricket" and "It's a shame we have to go catch some snakes now". Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island This was seen during the Crocodile Hunter episode “Island of the Snakes". ^[46]

Living in Queensland most of his life, Irwin was also a fan of rugby league. History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games As a teenager, he played for the Caloundra Sharks as a second-rower,^[47] and as an adult he was known to be a passionate Brisbane Broncos fan and was involved with the club on several occasions. The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional Rugby league club based in the city of Brisbane Queensland. On one occasion after turning up to training he asked if he could tackle the largest player, Shane Webcke. Shane Webcke (born 28 September 1974 in Toowoomba Queensland) is an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer who spent 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. The Queensland State of Origin team is a Rugby league team representing the state of Queensland that plays in Australia's annual three-match State of Origin State of Origin is an annual best-of-three series of Rugby league matches between the Maroons, representing the state of Queensland, and the Blues ^[48] Irwin also supported rugby union, being a fan of the national team, the Wallabies. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in Rugby union. He once wore a 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. Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast The France national rugby union team represents France in Rugby union. The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup and the first to be held in Rugby union 's professional era. Irwin was also a talented surfer. ^[49]

Other personal trivia

• Irwin was particularly interested in Singapore Zoo, which he considered a sister institution of the Australia Zoo. The Singapore Zoo ( Chinese: 新加坡动物园 formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens and commonly known locally as the Mandai Zoo, occupies Australia Zoo is located in the Australian state of Queensland on the Sunshine Coast near Beerwah / Glass House Mountains. ^[50]
• Irwin loved mixed martial arts competitions and trained with Greg Jackson in the fighting/grappling system of Gaidojutsu. Mixed martial arts (MMA is a full contact Combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques from a mixture of Martial arts traditions and ^[51]
• 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. Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an American television/radio host Parrots are birds of the roughly 350 Species in 85 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes, found in most warm and tropical regions ^[1]
• In 2005, in an interview for New Idea, he stated that he was afraid of being killed in a car crash. New Idea is an Australian magazine published weekly by Pacific Magazines and aimed at women ^[52]
• Terri Irwin has stated in an interview that Irwin believed in God. ^[53] Stories that he had joined a church a short time before his death appear to be urban legend. An urban legend or urban myth is a form of modern Folklore consisting of stories thought to be factual by those circulating them ^[54]
• Although he and Terri were happily married, they did not wear wedding rings; in their line of work, wearing jewellery could pose a hazard to them and/or the animals. A wedding ring or wedding band consists of a Metal ring, often set with diamonds or other precious stones Jewellery (also spelled jewelry, see spelling differences) is a personal Ornament, such as a necklace ring or bracelet made from Gemstones A hazard is a situation which poses a level of threat to Life, Health, Property or environment. ^[55]
• He is supposedly parodied in the video game Grand Theft Auto:Vice City on the radio talkback station, "KCHAT" as "Mr. A parody (ˈpɛɹədiː US, [ˈpaɹədiː] UK) in contemporary usage is a work created to mock comment on or poke fun at an original work its subject Grand Theft Auto Vice City is a sandbox-style action-adventure computer and Video game designed by Rockstar North (formerly Zoo. "

Death

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. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Dasyatidae is a family of rays, cartilaginous marine Fishes related to Skates and Sharks Dasyatids are common in tropical Snorkeling ( British spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of Swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a Diving mask, a The Great Barrier Reef is the largest Coral reef system in the world composed of over 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2600 kilometres (1600 mi Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately north of Cairns. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent Irwin was in the area filming his own documentary, Ocean's Deadliest, but weather had stalled filming. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Ocean's Deadliest is a Nature documentary hosted by Philippe Cousteau Jr Irwin decided to take the opportunity to film some shallow water shots for a segment in the television program his daughter Bindi was hosting,^[56] when, according to his friend and colleague, John Stainton, he swam too close to one of the stingrays. John Stainton is a motion picture film artist (director and producer "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 heart is a muscular organ in all Vertebrates responsible for pumping Blood through the Blood vessels by repeated rhythmic

The events were caught on camera, and a copy of the footage was handed to the Queensland Police. The Queensland Police Service is the law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Australian state of Queensland. ^[57] 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. Ben Cropp (born 7 January 1936) is an Australian former shark hunter and six-time Australian Spearfishing champion having retired from that trade " 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/10 in in length) in an upward motion.

Cropp said Irwin had accidentally boxed the animal in. "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. For other species that go under the same name see Bull ray (disambiguation. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and "I have swum with many rays, and I have only had one do that to me. . . "^[58]

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. John Stainton is a motion picture film artist (director and producer Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an American television/radio host Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. "^[59] 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. "^[57]

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. A coroner is an official responsible for investigating deaths particularly some of those happening under unusual circumstances and determining the cause of death A cardiac arrest, also known as cardiorespiratory arrest, cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest, is the abrupt cessation of normal circulation of ^[60] A similar incident in Florida a month later in which a man survived a stingray barb through the heart suggested that Irwin's removal of the barb might have caused or hastened his death. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The heart is a muscular organ in all Vertebrates responsible for pumping Blood through the Blood vessels by repeated rhythmic ^[61] 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 an emergency rescue helicopter. However despite the best efforts of Irwin's crew, medical staff pronounced him dead when they arrived a short time later. ^[56] 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. "^[62]

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. Location Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair is a national park in the Central Highlands areaof Tasmania ( Australia) 165 km northwest of Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass Devonport is a city in the north-west of Tasmania, Australia, at the mouth of the Mersey River. The Sunshine Coast (population 290645 with up to an additional 50000 in visitors and seasonal workers is a coastal region located in South East Queensland, north of the ^[56]

Fatalities due to stingrays are infrequent and occurrences are not consistently collated. ^[63] The attack on Irwin is believed to be the only fatality from a stingray ever captured on film. ^[64]

Stainton told CNN's Larry King "[The tape] should be destroyed". Cable News Network, usually referred to by its Initialism CNN, is a major English language Television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an American television/radio host ^[65] In an ABC interview with Barbara Walters, Irwin's wife Terri said she has not seen the film of her husband's deadly encounter with the stingray and that it would not be shown on television. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Barbara Jill Walters (born September 25 1929) is an American Journalist, writer and media ^[66] On January 3, 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. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[67] In a January 11, 2007 interview with Access Hollywood, Terri said that "all footage has been destroyed. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Access Hollywood is a weekday Television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry "^[68] Despite these statements, numerous videos, including screamers, surfaced on sites such as YouTube claiming to be footage of Irwin's death. A computer prank is a prank related to either the software or the hardware of Computers Some are intended to humiliate while others are YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload view and share Video clips YouTube was created in February 2005 by three former PayPal employees Several pictures have also surfaced on Google Images.

Production was completed on Ocean's Deadliest, which aired for the first time on the Discovery Channel on January 21, 2007. Discovery Channel is an American Satellite and Cable TV channel (also delivered via IPTV, Terrestrial television and Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The documentary was completed with footage shot in the weeks following the accident. ^[69] According to Stainton, "Anything to do with the day that he died, that film is not available. "^[70] Perhaps to maintain the film's original purpose as a nature documentary and prevent it from becoming a documentary of Irwin's final days, his death is not mentioned in the film, aside from a still image of Irwin at the end alongside the text "In Memory of Steve Irwin".

Reaction

News of his death prompted widespread worldwide shock. Australian Prime Minister John Howard expressed his "shock and distress" at the death, saying that "Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son. The Prime Minister of Australia is the Head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia, holding office on commission from the Governor-General. "^[71] 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". See Premiers of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Premier Peter Douglas Beattie (born 18 November 1952) Australian politician was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. ^[72] 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. Fairfax Media Limited, is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies ^[73] Talk-back radio experienced a high volume of callers expressing their grief. ^[74] Flags at the Sydney Harbour were lowered to half staff in honor of Irwin. Half-staff or half-mast describes a Flag flying approximately halfway up a flagpole or ship's mast (though anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the way up is acceptable ^[75]

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. Animal Planet is an American Satellite and Cable Television channel (also broadcast via IPTV in the UK) launched on Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The tribute continued with the Animal Planet channel showing highlights of Irwin's more than 200 appearances on Discovery Networks shows. ^[76]

On the evening of his death, Enough Rope re-broadcast an interview between Irwin and Andrew Denton originally broadcast in 2003. Enough Rope with Andrew Denton (often shortened to Enough Rope) is a television Talk show broadcast on ABC1 in Australia Andrew Christopher Denton (born 4 May 1960 is an Australian Comedian and CNN showed a repeat of his interview on Larry King Live, originally recorded in 2004. Cable News Network, usually referred to by its Initialism CNN, is a major English language Television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN. 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 Parliament of Australia or Commonwealth Parliament is the legislative branch of government of Australia. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March For Kim Beazley's father Kim Beazley senior, see Kim Edward Beazley. The Seven Network aired a television memorial show as a tribute to Irwin on 5 September 2006,^[77] as did the Nine Network on September 6, 2006. The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

Jay Leno delivered a tribute to Irwin, describing him as a great ambassador of Australia. James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28 1950 is an Emmy Award -winning American Stand-up comedian and Television host Irwin appeared on Leno's talk show on more than ten occasions. ^[78] 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. Live with Regis and Kelly is a syndicated American television Talk show, hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. Barbara Jill Walters (born September 25 1929) is an American Journalist, writer and media The View is an Emmy Award -winning American Talk show created by Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie and broadcast on Kelly Maria Ripa (born October 2, 1970) an American Daytime Emmy Award -winning actress, Television personality and ^[78]

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. ^[79] 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. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[80]

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. Wildlife Warriors, originally called the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation is a Conservationist organization that was established in 2002 by Steve Irwin

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. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent Michael Hornby, a friend of the late naturalist and executive director of Irwin's Wildlife Warrior fund, condemned any revenge killings.

"We just want to make it very clear that we will not accept and not stand for anyone who's taken a form of retribution. That's the last thing Steve would want," he said. ^[81]

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. See Premiers of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Premier Peter Douglas Beattie (born 18 November 1952) Australian politician was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony held to honour Heads of state or other important people of national significance See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March The family decided that such a funeral wouldn't be appropriate, a sentiment echoed by many Australians outside media and political circles. 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. Bob Irwin (born c 1939/1940 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian naturalist, animal Conservationist, and a pioneering "^[82] 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. A funeral is a Ceremony marking a person's Death. Funerary customs comprise the complex of Beliefs and practices used by a Culture to remember Caloundra (kəˈlaʊndrə is the southern-most community on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland, Australia. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian ^[83]The naturalist was buried in a private ceremony at the zoo on the same day. ^[80]

Memorial service

A public service was held at the 5,500-seat Crocoseum at Australia Zoo on Wednesday morning September 20, 2006. Australia Zoo is located in the Australian state of Queensland on the Sunshine Coast near Beerwah / Glass House Mountains. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 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. The Seven Network is an Australian television network, owned by the Seven Media Group. The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956 Sky News Australia is an Australian 24 hour Cable and Satellite news channel available on Foxtel, Austar, Optus Television 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. Animal Planet is an American Satellite and Cable Television channel (also broadcast via IPTV in the UK) launched on A BBC camera crew was also sent especially to Australia to cover the memorial service for the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It is estimated that over 300 million viewers worldwide watched the service. ^[84]. The memorial was also rebroadcast on Animal Planet on January 1, 2007 as part of their New Year's Day celebration, and again the following day. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though

Messages from around the world came from people including Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Kelly Ripa and Larry King. Australia Zoo is located in the Australian state of Queensland on the Sunshine Coast near Beerwah / Glass House Mountains. Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October, 1968) is an Tony Award -winning and Emmy Award -winning Australian Actor Cameron Michelle Díaz (born August 30 1972 is a Golden Globe - BAFTA - and SAG -Award nominated U Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31 1981 He has English ancestry although he has also claimed some American Indian ancestry probably through unconfirmed Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American Actor, producer and Academy Award -winning director Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964 is an Academy Award - BAFTA - Golden Globe - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning New Zealand and Kelly Maria Ripa (born October 2, 1970) an American Daytime Emmy Award -winning actress, Television personality and Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an American television/radio host Costner called him a "fearless" man who was brave enough to let people see him as he was. ^[85]

The Prime Minister John Howard made an early speech at the service, as did Irwin's father Bob and his daughter Bindi.

Wes Mannion and John Stainton also made speeches and David Wenham read a poem. Wes Mannion (born September 1970 is best known from the series The Crocodile Hunter as Steve Irwin 's best friend David Wenham (born 21 September 1965 is an Australian actor who has appeared in movies Television series and Theatre productions ^[85] 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. Anthony Field (born May 8 1963 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian musician and actor The Wiggles are a children's musical group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991 John Robert Williamson AM (born 1 November 1945 in Quambatook, Victoria) is an Australian Country music True Blue is an Australian Folk song written in 1981 by singer-songwriter John Williamson. 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. The University of Queensland (UQ is one of Australia's premier learning and research institutions The meaning of the word professor ( Latin: professor, person who professes to be an expert in some art or science teacher of highest rank) varies ^[86] 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. } The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a Steel arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business Half-staff or half-mast describes a Flag flying approximately halfway up a flagpole or ship's mast (though anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the way up is acceptable

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. ^[79]
• 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". New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[87]
• There will be a nature park in Australia named after Irwin, the Australian federal government announced in July 2007. ^[88]

American memorials

• Animal Planet will rename the garden in front of Discovery's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S., to the "Steve Irwin Memorial Sensory Garden". Silver Spring is an urbanized Unincorporated area in Montgomery County Maryland, USA Montgomery County of the US state of Maryland is situated just north of Washington D The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[89]

• 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". ^[89]

• Animal Planet ran a The Crocodile Hunter Diaries marathon on air to pay tribute to Irwin. The Crocodile Hunter Diaries is a Wildlife documentary television series first aired on cable TV channel Animal Planet.

• There is presently a resolution under consideration in the Kentucky General Assembly to make February 22, 2007 Steve Irwin Day in honor of what would have been his 45th birthday. The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[90]

• On the Happy Feet DVD, there is a deleted scene where the main character Mumble meets an albatross voiced by Irwin and a blue whale. Happy Feet is an Australian -produced 2006 computer-animated Comedy-drama musical Film, directed and co-written DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is The scene was unfinished at first but was included on the DVD release to honor Irwin's memory as Irwin had insisted on being in a film that contained a message about the environment. Happy Feet is an Australian -produced 2006 computer-animated Comedy-drama musical Film, directed and co-written However, they took this scene off the movie and decided to let Irwin play an elephant seal named Trev. Elephant seals are large oceangoing Mammals in the Genus Mirounga, in the Earless seal (Phocidae family.

Indian memorial

• A crocodile research centre in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary was named by the Kerala government after Steve Irwin.

The state's forest and wildlife department is perhaps the first government body in the world to name a memorial after Irwin, whose documentaries on wildlife and reptiles endeared him to thousands of viewers. The centre is now called the Steve Irwin Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre.

Death anniversary

On September 4, 2007, Australian fans gathered at the Irwin family zoo on the Gold Coast, Queensland to commemorate the first anniversary of Irwin's death. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. A zoological garden, shortened to zoo, is an institution in which living animals are exhibited in captivity Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent State Premier Peter Beattie described Irwin as one of the state's greatest cultural ambassadors. Peter Douglas Beattie (born 18 November 1952) Australian politician was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland An ambassador is the highest ranking Diplomat who represents their country On November 15, Irwin's widow Terri and children, Bindi and Bob, remembered his life and achievements on "Steve Irwin Day. "^[91]

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". Dan Mathews is the Senior Vice President of PETA and known for heading PETA's most controversial and attention-getting campaigns including the "I'd Rather 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. Jacques-Yves Cousteau ( 11 June 1910 – 25 June 1997) was a French naval officer explorer, Ecologist, "^[92][93] 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. Jean-Michel Cousteau (born May 6, 1938) is a French explorer environmentalist educator film producer the first son of ocean explorer Cousteau said, "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". ^[94] Jacques Cousteau's grandson, Philippe 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. Philippe Cousteau Jr (born January 20, 1980) is the son of Philippe Cousteau and the grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. " 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. "^[95]

See also

• Wildlife Warriors

Notes and references

External links

• Australia Zoo's Crocodile Hunter website
• Official Animal Planet website for The Crocodile Hunter
• Huge collection of features and photographs from Daily Telegraph concerning the Irwins
• Steve Irwin at the Open Directory Project
• Steve Irwin at the Internet Movie Database
• Steve Irwin at TV.com

Persondata
NAME	Irwin, Stephen Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	crocodile hunter
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Australian environmentalist and television personality
DATE OF BIRTH	1962-02-22
PLACE OF BIRTH	Essendon, Victoria, Australia
DATE OF DEATH	2006-09-04
PLACE OF DEATH	Batt Reef, Low Isles off Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory TVcom is a website owned by CNET Networks. The service was launched on June 1 2005 and replaced the popular TV Tome website Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Essendon is a Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately north of Cairns. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.

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