Everyday we see negativity towards aim at our hobby, business, & love. Just figured today was a special day & we should remember someone who shared the love we do with everyone he could & was probably the reason a few found there interest in reptiles or learned to admire & respect it. Hopefully one day we can get back to a time where television isn't full of trash but I know it will never be the same without him.
Fifth anniversary of ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin’s untimely death by stingray
http://www.examiner.com/article/fift...th-by-stingray
Today is the fifth anniversary of eccentric environmentalist and “wildlife warrior” Steve Irwin’s tragic death, coinciding rather unfortunately with Australian Father’s Day.
Irwin, father of two, was killed at age 44 when a stingray barb pierced his heart while diving for a documentary in the Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s coast. Despite Irwin’s flirtation with danger by poking and prodding the world’s deadliest creatures, his untimely demise was considered by some to be a freak accident considering fatal stingray attacks are almost unheard of. Only two other deaths from stingrays have been recorded in Australia.
Irwin – who made khaki a fashion statement and “Crikey!” a household catchword – was best known for excitedly wrestling crocodiles and manhandling poisonous snakes on the wildlife documentary television series The Crocodile Hunter.
Outrageous antics aside, Irwin’s most importantly known for his contributions to public education and passionate support of various environmental causes. Irwin described himself as "a man in a hurry" who wanted to accomplish as much as he could in his lifetime. He believed in promoting conservation by sharing his excitement for wildlife instead of protesting.
"I consider myself a wildlife warrior,” he said during a 2003 interview with The Age in Australia. “My mission is to save the world's endangered species."
Steve Irwin has been so influential in conservation the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (Whale Wars) named their flag ship in honor of him. And while Irwin’s approach to environmentalism is opposite of the Sea Shepherd s their goals are the same.
“Steve's legacy lives on with the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and his endowment of land for conservation,” Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd founder, wrote on their own Facebook wall. “My thoughts today are with Terri, Bindi and Robert and Bob.”
Today is also Father’s Day in Australia which unlike the US and Canada is the first Sunday in September. Steve’s legacy continues with his father Bob, wife Terri, daughter Bindi, 13, and son Robert, 7.
Considered to be Australia’s most famous family they are still involved with numerous conservation efforts including the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (given to the Irwin family by the federal government to manage in 2007), and Australia’s largest wildlife hospital at the Australia (Beerwah) Zoo. Since the wildlife hospital opened in 2008 it continues to expand and now treats more than 8000 injured and orphaned wildlife patients every year.
While the zoo celebrated Father’s Day today the Irwin family is on holidays at a remote location and will celebrate Steve’s memory publicly on Steve Irwin Day Nov. 15, according to the Sunshine Coast Daily, a local Australian newspaper.
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