While he will be forever remembered as “The Crocodile Hunter,” Steve Irwin’s legacy is one of unconditional devotion to preserving wildlife, not hunting it. As one of Australia’s most publicized environmentalists, Irwin was able to capture people’s fascination with his enthusiastic personality and a certain proclivity to dangerous situations. Whether he was hand-feeding a 12 foot crocodile or catching a highly venomous king cobra, no one made it look easier than Irwin.
Born on Feb. 22, 1962, in the small town of Essendon, Victoria, Stephen Robert Irwin was the only child of Robert and Lyn Irwin. Robert, a wildlife expert, was especially interested in the field of herpetology and enjoyed introducing his son to a variety of reptile species. In fact, for Irwin’s sixth birthday, his father gave him what he believed to be the perfect gift, a 12-foot scrub python. Two years later, the family moved to Queensland where Robert and Lyn wasted no time in establishing a small Reptile and Fauna Park. Despite being only eight years old at the time, Irwin was tasked with feeding the animals, as well as maintaining their enclosures. It was at his parents’ park that he began frequently handling large reptiles, and wrestled his first croc at the age of nine. He would continue working at the Reptile and Fauna Park throughout his adolescence, as he discovered that his passion for wildlife was turning into a lifelong adventure.
In 1991, Irwin began managing the family park, renaming it Australia Zoo. He became known for the regular feeding exhibitions in which he would hand-feed crocodiles just a few yards away from the audience. It was while working at the Australia Zoo that he met his wife, Terri Raines, who had been visiting wildlife rehabilitation centers in Australia. The two quickly developed a relationship and were married less than a year later. The newlywed couple decided that, instead of a traditional honeymoon, they would go on a crocodile catching excursion, which was later adapted into the hit series “The Crocodile Hunter.” The show spent several years on the air, becoming popular in over 130 countries and reaching more than 500 million viewers.
On Sept. 4, 2006 Irwin’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 44 while filming an underwater documentary entitled “Ocean’s Deadliest.” While attempting to capture footage of a large stingray, he was pierced in the chest by a large, venomous barb on the animal’s tail. He was quickly rushed to the nearest hospital, but the anti-venom was not administered in time.
Joshua Shapiro is a second-year student majoring in English and education. He can be reached at JS762110@wcupa.edu.