Steve Irwin

Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin (born February 22, 1962 in Essendon, Victoria, Australia) is the owner and manager of Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Queensland, Australia. He is best known as The Crocodile Hunter, which is the name of the unconventional nature documentary series on television he, assisted by his American-born wife, Terri Irwin, presents. His larger-than-life persona and seemingly outrageous antics are key features in the presentation, which provides a forum for educational information about wildlife conservation and conflicts with humans in various parts of the world. The program has made the Irwins television personalities on several continents...

Related Topics:
February 22 - 1962 - Essendon - Victoria - Australia - Australia Zoo - Queensland - The Crocodile Hunter - Documentary - Terri Irwin

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Born in the Melbourne area, he moved with his parents as a child to Queensland, where his parents, Bob and Lyn, ran the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, a small reptile park. Steve grew up around crocodiles and other reptiles. He became a crocodile trapper, removing crocodiles from near populated areas, performing the service for free with the quid pro quo that he kept them for the park.

Related Topics:
Melbourne - Queensland - Reptile - Crocodile - Trapper - Quid pro quo

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In 1991, he took over the running of the park, now renamed the "Australia Zoo", and in 1992 met (at the park) and married Terri. The footage, shot by John Stainton, of their crocodile-trapping honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter, which became wildly successful in America.

Related Topics:
1991 - Australia Zoo - 1992 - John Stainton - Honeymoon

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In 2002, their first feature film, ', was released. In 2003, Irwin was reportedly in line to host a chat show on Australian network television.

Related Topics:
2002 - 2003 - Chat show

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The Irwins have two children: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born 24 July 1998), and a son, Robert (Bob) Clarence Irwin (born 1 December 2003). Their dog, Sui, from which their daughter's middle name was derived, died in June 2004.

Related Topics:
Daughter - 24 July - 1998 - 1 December - 2003 - June - 2004

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Under Steve's expansive leadership, the operations have grown to include the zoo, the television series, and The Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, and International Crocodile Rescue. Improvements to his Australia Zoo include the Animal Planet Crocoseum, the rainforest aviary, and Tiger Temple.

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Controversy arose during a public show on 2 January 2004, when Irwin carried his infant son, Bob, in one arm while feeding a dead chicken carcass to a crocodile with the other hand. He then set the child down on the ground near a pond with a crocodile in it. Child welfare and animal rights groups criticized his actions as irresponsible and tantamount to child abuse. Steve stated any danger to his son was only a perceived danger and that he was in complete control of the situation. His defenders pointed to his several decades of "hands on" experience and direct interaction with crocodiles, his well-known love for his children, and his respect for his role as a father. Terri commented that their child was in no more real danger than a child being taught to swim would be. No charges were filed.

Related Topics:
2 January - 2004 - Animal rights - Child abuse

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Irwin went on to star in other Animal Planet documentaries, including The Croc Files, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and New Breed Vets.

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In June of 2004, Irwin came under fire again when allegations were made that he came too close to and disturbed some wildlife (namely whales, seals and penguins) while filming a documentary in Antarctica. Interacting with Antarctic wildlife in an unapproved manner may be a breach of Australian federal and international laws. Subsequently, the issue ended without charges being filed.

Related Topics:
June - Whales - Seals - Penguins - Antarctica - International law

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Animal Planet then released a Crocodile Hunter documentary called "Crocodiles & Controversy", which explained both the Baby Bob Incident and his adventure in Antarctica. Viewers saw how his son was never in danger of being eaten by the crocodile and that Steve could not have endangered animals in Antarctica.

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Eventually Animal Planet switched off the Crocodile Hunter with a series final entitled "Steve's Last Adventure". The last Crocodile Hunter documentary went for three emotional hours with footage of Steve's across the world adventure, visiting locations like the Himalayas, the Yangste River, Borneo, and the Kruger National Park.

Related Topics:
Himalayas - Kruger National Park

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The Crocodile Hunter Documentaries

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• The Crocodile Hunter
• The Crocodile Hunter Part Two
• The Crocodile Hunter Part Three
• The Crocodile Hunter Goes West Part One
• The Crocodile Hunter Goes West Part One
• The Crocodile Hunter - Traveling The Dingo Fence Part One
• The Crocodile Hunter - Traveling The Dingo Fence Part Two
• The Crocodile Hunter - Suburban Killers
• The Crocodile Hunter - Return To The Wild
• The Crocodile Hunter - Africa's Deadliest Snakes
• The Crocodile Hunter - Dangerous Africans
• The Crocodile Hunter - Dangerous Americans
• The Crocodile Hunter - Spitting Cobras Of The World
• The Crocodile Hunter - Surfing Snakes
• The Crocodile Hunter - Ghosts Of War
• The Crocodile Hunter - A Handful Of Elephants
• The Crocodile Hunter - Wild River Of Africa
• The Crocodile Hunter - Faces In The Forest
• The Crocodile Hunter - Island Of Time
• The Crocodile Hunter - Steve & The Dragon
• The Crocodile Hunter - Australia's Wild Frontier
• The Crocodile Hunter - Crocodiles Of The Revolution
• The Crocodile Hunter - Graham's Revenge
• The Crocodile Hunter - Bunya Rescue
• The Crocodile Hunter - Zoo Evolution
• The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Story
• The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Most Dangerous Adventures
• The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Greatest Crocodile Captures
• The Crocodile Hunter - Captured On Camera
• The Crocodile Hunter - Wildest Home Videos
• The Crocodile Hunter - Big Croc Diaries
• The Crocodile Hunter - River Of The Damed
• The Crocodile Hunter - Crocs In The City
• The Crocodile Hunter - Penguins In The City
• The Crocodile Hunter - Island Of Snakes
• The Crocodile Hunter - Whale Shales Of The Wild West
• The Crocodile Hunter - Phantoms Of The Rainforest
• The Crocodile Hunter - Alligators In Love
• The Crocodile Hunter - They Shoot Crocodiles Don't They
• The Crocodile Hunter - Leopards Of The Himalayas
• The Crocodile Hunter - Africa's Big Five
• The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Singapore Safari
• The Crocodile Hunter - Adventure With David Attenborough
• The Crocodile Hunter - Ice Breaker
• The Crocodile Hunter - Crocodiles & Controversy
• The Crocodile Hunter - Steve's Last Adventure - Series Final

The Crocodile Hunter Diaries Episodes

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• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Steve's Birthday
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Dancing With Devils
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - New Zoo
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - New Arrivals
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Wild Boys, Wild Crocs
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Girls Catch Crocs Too
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Mateship
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - John Farnham's Holiday
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Operation Sui
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 1 - Mary's Farewell
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Kelly's Big Day
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Celebrities & Practical Jokes
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Wild About Harry
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Celebrities & Practical Jokes 2
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Backstage Bedlam
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Behind 'Croc Live'
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Celebrities & Practical Jokes 3
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Crocoseum
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Elephants Down Under
• The Crocodile Hunter Diaries - Season 2 - Tigers Live

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Steve Irwin: External links ►