Its been two years since we lost the great Crocodile Hunter. It was this fateful day when the ever smiling Steve Irwin left a vacuum in the world of animal lovers. The one who said:
"I consider myself a wildlife warrior. My mission is to save the world's endangered species.”
Steve Irwin was born on 22 February 1962 in Essendon, Victoria, Australia. His father Bob Irwin was a wildlife expert and his mother Lyn was a wildlife rehabilitator. He moved with his parents as a child to Queensland in 1970. In Queensland, Bob and Lyn Irwin started the small Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, where Steve grew up around crocodiles and other reptiles.
Irwin’s love towards wild life started early as he became involved with the park in a number of ways, including taking part in daily animal feeding, as well as care and maintenance activities. He wrestled his first crocodile; again under his father's supervision when we was barely nine years old. His fascination towards reptiles got him an unusual Birthday present- a 12-foot (4 m) scrub python!
He graduated from Caloundra State High School in 1979 and soon moved to Northern Queensland, where he became a crocodile trapper, removing crocodiles from populated areas where they were considered a danger.
Life changed further for Steve in 1991 when he met his soul mate Terri Raines. The two married in June 1992. The footage, of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter, which was debuted on Australian TV screens in 1996, and later in North American television. The Crocodile Hunter became successful in the United States, UK and over 137 countries, reaching 500 million people. Steve was beloved by millions of fans and animal lovers around the world. He also got a nick name as “Crocodile Hunter”. In 1998, he again presented a series –The Ten Deadliest Snakes in the World produced and directed by Mark Strickson.
Other than a cameo role in the Eddie Murphy film Dr Dolittle 2, self portrayal in –The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, Video Wiggly Safari, which was set in Irwin's Australia Zoo, he also gave his voice for the 2006 animated film Happy Feet, as an elephant seal named Trev. He was also involved in several media campaigns, promoted Australian tourism and appeared on campaign posters. He donated all the fee received from media campaign to the wildlife fund. He was a passionate conservationist and believed in promoting environmentalism by sharing his excitement about the natural world rather than preaching to people. He was concerned with conservation of endangered animals and land clearing leading to loss of habitat.
In 2001, Irwin was awarded the Centenary Medal for his "service” to global conservation and to Australian tourism He was also nominated in 2004 for Australian of the Year. 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. The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary was named by the Kerala government after late Steve Irwin.
He knew the dangers involved in his profession, but his love towards animals was unconditional. He loved the wildlife from core of his heart and always felt that they are harmless. In a way, he went to extent of pardoning the stingray in advance, who killed the great Crocodile Hunter. He wrote –“If I ever get bitten, stomped, chewed, lacerated, trampled, kicked, gouged, stung, or peed on - it's my fault, never the animal’s!”. Steve was killed during a filming expedition on the Great Barrier Reef in 2006. It was a rare accident in which Steve swam over a stingray and was stung by its barb in his chest.
He was indeed larger than life personality. When the world lost Steve Irwin, this is how Discovery Communication’s Founder and Chairman, John Hendricks described him and said, "Steve was a larger than life force. He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe”.
"I consider myself a wildlife warrior. My mission is to save the world's endangered species.”
Steve Irwin was born on 22 February 1962 in Essendon, Victoria, Australia. His father Bob Irwin was a wildlife expert and his mother Lyn was a wildlife rehabilitator. He moved with his parents as a child to Queensland in 1970. In Queensland, Bob and Lyn Irwin started the small Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, where Steve grew up around crocodiles and other reptiles.
Irwin’s love towards wild life started early as he became involved with the park in a number of ways, including taking part in daily animal feeding, as well as care and maintenance activities. He wrestled his first crocodile; again under his father's supervision when we was barely nine years old. His fascination towards reptiles got him an unusual Birthday present- a 12-foot (4 m) scrub python!
He graduated from Caloundra State High School in 1979 and soon moved to Northern Queensland, where he became a crocodile trapper, removing crocodiles from populated areas where they were considered a danger.
Life changed further for Steve in 1991 when he met his soul mate Terri Raines. The two married in June 1992. The footage, of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter, which was debuted on Australian TV screens in 1996, and later in North American television. The Crocodile Hunter became successful in the United States, UK and over 137 countries, reaching 500 million people. Steve was beloved by millions of fans and animal lovers around the world. He also got a nick name as “Crocodile Hunter”. In 1998, he again presented a series –The Ten Deadliest Snakes in the World produced and directed by Mark Strickson.
Other than a cameo role in the Eddie Murphy film Dr Dolittle 2, self portrayal in –The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, Video Wiggly Safari, which was set in Irwin's Australia Zoo, he also gave his voice for the 2006 animated film Happy Feet, as an elephant seal named Trev. He was also involved in several media campaigns, promoted Australian tourism and appeared on campaign posters. He donated all the fee received from media campaign to the wildlife fund. He was a passionate conservationist and believed in promoting environmentalism by sharing his excitement about the natural world rather than preaching to people. He was concerned with conservation of endangered animals and land clearing leading to loss of habitat.
In 2001, Irwin was awarded the Centenary Medal for his "service” to global conservation and to Australian tourism He was also nominated in 2004 for Australian of the Year. 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. The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary was named by the Kerala government after late Steve Irwin.
He knew the dangers involved in his profession, but his love towards animals was unconditional. He loved the wildlife from core of his heart and always felt that they are harmless. In a way, he went to extent of pardoning the stingray in advance, who killed the great Crocodile Hunter. He wrote –“If I ever get bitten, stomped, chewed, lacerated, trampled, kicked, gouged, stung, or peed on - it's my fault, never the animal’s!”. Steve was killed during a filming expedition on the Great Barrier Reef in 2006. It was a rare accident in which Steve swam over a stingray and was stung by its barb in his chest.
He was indeed larger than life personality. When the world lost Steve Irwin, this is how Discovery Communication’s Founder and Chairman, John Hendricks described him and said, "Steve was a larger than life force. He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe”.
Posts
1 comment:
You have chosen to highlight one of those rare trait a human being has for animals,birds and reptiles. Perhaps you have inspired a few like me to adore creation by adoring and caring for the animals around us. Being a person seriously concerned about the destruction of nature's creation, and doing nothing in te bargain to uphold what I believe in, yet I am with you in this regard with reference to safegaurding the nature, by echoing your sentiments.May ur effort flourish!
Post a Comment