As so many others I first learned of Steve Irwin from Discovery's "The Crocodile Hunter". While his actions were often dangerous and spectacular, I never got the impression he did it for the show.
When Steve jumps out of the boat at night into the cold water and starts to feel his way around to find the crocodile he's looking for, it is not primarily to make dramatic television. It's to trap and relocate an animal that would otherwise need to be killed or tranquilized, something that is always very risky for wild animals. Steve's methods may have been dangerous for himself but they were, so far as I could tell, always in the animal's best interest.
Whatever you thought of his methods on this show and others, his passion for and commitment to wild animals (which I understand he spent a considerable amount of his own money on) together with his incredible charisma made it hard not to like him.
The sadness I and many others feel is perhaps even deeper because of the nature of his death. After spending most of his life in close proximity to extremely dangerous animals it feels so unnecessary and pointless to have his life cut short from one that is so very unlikely to even harm humans.
My thoughts go to his family, but also to all of Australia. You have lost a great personality and ambassador for your country.
When Steve jumps out of the boat at night into the cold water and starts to feel his way around to find the crocodile he's looking for, it is not primarily to make dramatic television. It's to trap and relocate an animal that would otherwise need to be killed or tranquilized, something that is always very risky for wild animals. Steve's methods may have been dangerous for himself but they were, so far as I could tell, always in the animal's best interest.
Whatever you thought of his methods on this show and others, his passion for and commitment to wild animals (which I understand he spent a considerable amount of his own money on) together with his incredible charisma made it hard not to like him.
The sadness I and many others feel is perhaps even deeper because of the nature of his death. After spending most of his life in close proximity to extremely dangerous animals it feels so unnecessary and pointless to have his life cut short from one that is so very unlikely to even harm humans.
My thoughts go to his family, but also to all of Australia. You have lost a great personality and ambassador for your country.