2008 Woodie Awards
Saying Goodbye to Steve Irwin
Lily Velez
Issue date: 9/18/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Most of us didn't believe it Labor Day morning when the media broadcasted the death of 44-year old Steve Irwin, more affectionately known as "The Crocodile Hunter." The acclaimed conservationist was snorkeling at Batt Reef, found off the coast of Port Douglas in Queensland, when a 220lb bull stingray lashed out with its barbed tail-which can measure up to eight inches - and stabbed Irwin in the heart. Experts believe both the powerful toxins of the barb and the wound itself caused Irwin to die of cardiac arrest. It was a loss felt the world over, and one that compelled kindred spirits, fellow animal lovers and Crocodile Hunter fans to reflect on the wildlife-lover's legacy.
Having caught his first crocodile at the mere age of nine, Irwin's extreme antics began long before his celebrity days. After graduating high school, he became a crocodile trapper. His services were free so long as he was able to send the crocodiles to the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, founded by his father, Bob Irwin.
In 1991, the family-run park was turned over to Irwin, who renamed it Australia Zoo. He often performed demonstrations at the park to educate visitors about wildlife. It was at one such demonstration that he met the woman he'd end up marrying: Terri Raines. The two celebrated their honeymoon in perhaps the most unconventional way: trapping crocodiles.
The footage of that night, however, would later go on to be the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. The show was welcomed by enthusiastic devotees when it debuted in the United States by 1997. Within two years, 200 millions fans from 122 countries were tuning in to the series.
Steve Irwin wasn't just rising to fame-he was skyrocketing toward it. Not only did he shine in other Animal Planet documentaries like New Breed Vets, The Croc Files and The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, he also made his way onto the Silver Screen. He landed a cameo role in Dr. Dolittle 2 and starred in his very own feature film The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (which won the Best Family Feature Film award for a comedy film at the Young Artist Awards.)
Having caught his first crocodile at the mere age of nine, Irwin's extreme antics began long before his celebrity days. After graduating high school, he became a crocodile trapper. His services were free so long as he was able to send the crocodiles to the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, founded by his father, Bob Irwin.
In 1991, the family-run park was turned over to Irwin, who renamed it Australia Zoo. He often performed demonstrations at the park to educate visitors about wildlife. It was at one such demonstration that he met the woman he'd end up marrying: Terri Raines. The two celebrated their honeymoon in perhaps the most unconventional way: trapping crocodiles.
The footage of that night, however, would later go on to be the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. The show was welcomed by enthusiastic devotees when it debuted in the United States by 1997. Within two years, 200 millions fans from 122 countries were tuning in to the series.
Steve Irwin wasn't just rising to fame-he was skyrocketing toward it. Not only did he shine in other Animal Planet documentaries like New Breed Vets, The Croc Files and The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, he also made his way onto the Silver Screen. He landed a cameo role in Dr. Dolittle 2 and starred in his very own feature film The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (which won the Best Family Feature Film award for a comedy film at the Young Artist Awards.)
Be the first to comment on this story