Media Archive

Steve Irwin 
1962 - 2006

"Crikey!" Steve's dangerous animal antics bordered on insane, yet Man's spirit to achieve greatness is linked to risk taking, and Steve Irwin excelled at taking risks to further his passion for wildlife. Sadly Steve was fatally stung by a stingray September 4, while filming an ocean documentary. We regret his passing. He made a difference.

Steve Irwin on Wikipedia

Steve Irwin Quotes on Wikipedia

"Crikey!" Steve's dangerous animal antics bordered on insane, yet Man's spirit to achieve greatness is linked to risk taking, and Steve Irwin excelled at taking risks to further his passion for wildlife. Sadly Steve was fatally stung by a stingray September 4, while filming an ocean documentary. We regret his passing. He made a difference.

.wendy

Insights from a Notable California Naturalist and Aquarium Collector.

The rise and demise of the not-so-wise.

Steve Irwin was brought to Darwin's notice first for holding his son in one hand, with a hunk of crocodile meat extended in the other. A colleague and respected oceanic aquarist said, "He was playing with fire, a real hotdog. He did bring animals to the forefront of people's imagination and thoughts. He did a lot of good. But he pissed off animals. And he pissed off the wrong animal.

"He was playing with fire.

"Bat rays around here, they have a small barb at the base of their tail, surrounded by flesh, very innocuous. It's not used for prey, it's only defensive. The one Steve cornered was a bull ray, huge, 6-8' in diameter and 250 pounds. It definitely felt cornered. It must have felt cornered, or it wouldn't have lashed out.

"We were all amazed by the exact aim, right through the heart.

"The barbs have dagger points. We were catching and keeping (collecting) and we had a baby bat ray, 1' across its disk. A crewmember reached out and it lashed up and stung his wrist, the underside of his wrist. I cut off the barb with wirecutters and bound up his wrist. By the time we got to the hospital, the barb had travelled 3" -- it just worked its way in, it's so barbed, it wasn't gonna come out except one way."