On September 4, 2006 Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin (1962 - 2006), an Australian naturalist and television personality, died unexpectedly in a freak sting ray accident. Irwin and his wife Terri Irwin owned and operated the Australia Zoo in Queensland, which Irwin inherited from his parents. But he is best known for his fearless antics on his Discovery Channel television program "The Crocodile Hunter." Because of Irwin's celebrity status, some of today's picks are struggling with overwhelming traffic. If you can't reach one, just skip to the next, and try again later.
Irwin's "Crocodile Hunter" television show propelled him into worldwide superstar status. Visit the official Discovery Channel site for Close Call video clips, a Crocodile Hunter trivia quiz, an Irwin family album, and a fan bulletin board. Four fun multimedia activities are found in the Play & Interact drop down menu (on the Croc Fan Central page.) My favorite is meeting the animals of the Australia Zoo.
"I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message." Irwin was an exuberant environmentalist. The quotes collected here cover his love of wildlife, the environment, Australia, and his attitudes about fear. There is also a short biography and links to quotes by other Australian scientists. "Crikey means gee whiz, wow!"
"Crikey! Welcome to CrocodileHunter.com!" This is Irwin's official umbrella site. It includes a bio and links to his various passions including the Australia Zoo (one of Australia's biggest tourist destinations), Croc One (his customized seventy-five foot research and rescue vessel), and Wildlife Warriors Worldwide (a conservation charity.)
Irwin has crocodile rescue in his blood. "I've been rescuing crocodiles for the last thirty years - it all started with my Dad and Mum, Bob and Lyn Irwin who established the Queensland Fauna Park in 1970 and built the park up to be one of the best collections of reptilian fauna anywhere in the country." The International Crocodile Rescue, whose goal is to promote crocodile awareness, is well-equipped with various boats and traps, ready to activate in five minutes. Be sure to read Trap Design for a history of how the Irwins developed the soft mesh crocodile trap method in the 1970's that is still used today.
"So is this guy just an entertainer with a brazen attitude around wild animals, or is he a committed wildlife conservationist? Scientific American writer Sarah Simpson went to Queensland, Australia, to ask the Crocodile Hunter himself." Simpson's 2001 interview is excellent. It covers topics such as fighting sustainable use, what animals Irwin fears (this might surprise you!) and gorilla-friendly bananas.
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or try a FREE trial of the Printables ClubThe following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!
Cnn.com: Irwin Died Doing What He LovedWildlife Warriors | Wikipedia: Steve Irwin |
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