Steve Irwin

Stephen Robert " Steve" Irwin ( born February 22, 1962 in Essendon, Victoria ( Australia), † September 4, 2006 off the coast of Port Douglas ) was an Australian documentary filmmaker. Through its produced by the American television network Animal Planet series that was named after his nickname " The Crocodile Hunter", he gained worldwide notoriety.

Life

Already in childhood assisted his father Irwin, who was engaged on behalf of the Australian Government with the resettlement of various reptiles from urban areas. For his sixth birthday Irwin got his first python at age nine he began with the father's help, his first crocodile. In the 1980s, he lived for many months in the Australian bush and introduced the work of his father, where he held all his crocodile caught on camera. He was regarded since then as an expert on survival in the wilderness as well as the capture and relocation of reptiles such as crocodiles, snakes and lizards. In his work he discovered on the coast of Queensland also named after him Elseya irwini ( " Irwin's turtle" ), a kind of snake -necked turtles.

In 1991, Irwin took over with his wife Terri of his parents, the Reptile & Fauna Park in Queensland, which was later renamed Australia Zoo. A rescue team there furnished, in which residents can sign up if they feel threatened by reptiles, continues Irwin's earlier work.

The Crocodile Hunter

In 1996, the series The Crocodile Hunter started on Australian television. Over the years, 345 parts were filmed that were seen after Irwin's own information of over 500 million people in 137 countries. This series includes not only the episodes of The Crocodile Hunter, but also the Croc Files, the Croc Diaries, New Breed Vets ( German title: VSF ) and the feature film The Crocodile Hunter - Collision Course. All revenue that was generated by series and merchandising, benefited Irwins animal welfare organization and its zoo. After criticism from environmentalists, the series was set. Irwin should have too much interacts with filming in the Antarctic with whales, seals and penguins, which is prohibited by law. An examination of the Australian Government showed, however, that the allegations did not apply. Nevertheless, Irwin has not continued the series and instead care of new projects.

In the United States, his fame took on enormous proportions. Through his 15 years of work in front of the camera was a whole generation with his; Irwin with his Australian accent and slang for Americans by the representative of Australia as such. In the Australian television Irwin said in 2003 that he considered his fame for the dark side of his success. He had always been interested only in the welfare of animals.

On German television episodes of the series are broadcast since 2002. Irwin said he wanted to show his series in particular, that even unpopular animals have a right to life and our protection. It was his fault, if he were bitten by an animal, because he knows so, what he was getting into itself.

Death

Steve Irwin died on 4 September 2006 at underwater filming on the Great Barrier Reef from the effects of the sting of a stingray in the heart.

Steve Irwin is survived by his wife, Terri, and their two children, Bindi Sue and Robert Clarence.

Irwin was buried in the grounds of Australia Zoo, the precise location of the tomb is known only to the immediate family. A state funeral was leaning from the family in his spirit, as he had always seen themselves as ordinary bloke ( " regular guy "). The news of Irwin's death triggered mainly in Australia, but also in other countries, dismay.

In the days after Irwin's death several dead and mutilated stingrays were found on the coast of Queensland, whose sting had been cut out. Environmentalists of Irwins foundation " Wildlife Warrior" assumed that fanatical Irwin followers had perpetrated revenge.

Wildlife Warriors Worldwide

Irwin founded his own animal welfare organization, the "Steve Irwin Wildlife Foundation " ( SIWF ), today " Wildlife Warriors Worldwide", and his Zoo leads breeding programs of endangered species through. A large percentage of their revenue and donations used the Irwins to purchase large tracts of land in Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu and the United States, which were used as habitat for wildlife and as national parks. In this way, Irwin wanted to make sure that there are always places to which the animals can go when they can no longer live in the areas around his lands.

Honors

In 2001, Irwin was awarded the Centenary Medal for his work on global conservation and its positive impact on the Australian tourism. In 2004 he was honored as Tourism Export of the Year and nominated as Australian of the Year; However, this award was Steve Waugh.

In December 2007, Robert Hunter of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in Steve Irwin has been renamed. Thus, the organization honored his work for conservation.

Criticism

Irwin was publicly sharply criticized when he and his then one months old son in her arms in the context of his daily demonstrations fed an almost 4 -meter-long saltwater crocodile from the hand in January 2004. It was further held him he had wild animals removed from their natural habitat and tampered with them.