The crocodile hunter Stephen Robert Steve Irwin (22 February 1962 – 4 September 2006), nicknamed The Crocodile Hunter, was an Australian wildlife expert,[1][2] television personality, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted with his wife Terri. Together, the couple also owned and operated Australia Zoo, founded by Irwins parents in Beerwah, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of the Queensland state capital city of Brisbane. Irwin died on 4 September 2006 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming an underwater documentary film titled Oceans Deadliest. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship MY Steve Irwin was named in his honour. Steve and Terri spent their honeymoon trapping crocodiles together. Film footage of their honeymoon, taken by John Stainton, became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. The series debuted on Australian TV screens in 1996, and made its way onto North American television the following year. The Crocodile Hunter became successful in the United States, the UK,[11] and over 130 other countries, reaching 500 million people. Irwins exuberant and enthusiastic presenting style, broad Australian accent, signature khaki shorts, and catchphrase Crikey! became known worldwide.[12] Sir David Attenborough praised Irwin for introducing many to the natural world, saying He taught them how wonderful and exciting it was, he was a born communicator.[13] American satellite and cable television channel Animal Planet ended The Crocodile Hunter with a series finale titled Steves Last Adventure. The last Crocodile Hunter documentary spanned three hours with footage of Irwins across-the-world adventure in locations including the Himalayas, the Yangtze River, Borneo, and the Kruger National Park. Irwin went on to star in other Animal Planet documentaries, including Croc Files,[14] The Crocodile Hunter Diaries,[15] and New Breed Vets.[16] During a January 2006 interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Irwin announced that Discovery Kids would be developing a show for his daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin[17] – a plan realised after his death as the series Bindi the Jungle Girl.[18]
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 11:57:40 +0000
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