AUSTRALIA - Wildlife

Steve Irwin

Stephen "Steve" Robert Irwin, was born on the 22^nd of February 1962 and died in Essendon on the 4^th of Semptember 2006 in Batt Reef. He was an Australian television host and owner of Australia Zoo, a zoo founded by his parents in Beerwah in the state of Queensland.It opened on June 3^rd, 1970, and it has more than 1,000 animals on forty acres. Steve Irwin was known worldwide for his role as “Crocodile Hunter” on his show The Crocodile Hunter.

In 1991, his passion for crocodiles was filmed during a program on wildlife, when he met his future wife Terri, an American naturalist from Eugene, Oregon. She was in Australia to study wildlife centers rehabilitation and had decided to visit the zoo. According to the couple, it was love at first sight. Terri said at the time: " I thought there was not one like this in the world, he looked like Tarzan , larger than life, a super héro." They got engaged four months later and were married in Eugene on June 4^th, 1992 .

During their honeymoon , Steve irwin and his wife Terry went crocodile catching. This event was filmed by John Stainton, and served to create the first episode aired in 1996. The Crocodile Hunter, is a mix of entertainment and images of the Australian fauna. The following year , the program appeared on the screens in the United States and the United Kingdom. It was broadcasted in over 130 countries, it was seen by over 500 million people. The exuberant and enthusiastic style of Steve, his strong Australian accent, his khaki shorts and his favorite phrase " Crikey !" were now recognized in the whole world. Sir David Attenborough praised Steve for introducing many people to the natural world, saying: "He taught them as it was wonderful and exciting to do this, he was a born communicator."

In 1999 , Steve was invited to the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2004, he triggered a scandal feeding a crocodile while holding his baby in his arms.

He had two children, a daughter, Bindi Irwin ( born on the 24^th of July 1998 ) and a son , Robert Clarence "Bob" ( the name of the father of Steve) Irwin (born on the 1^st of December 2003). Bindi Sue was named after the name of Steve's two favorite animals: Bindi, a saltwater crocodile , and Sui, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier that died on June 23^rd, 2004. Irwin was as enthusiastic about his family when he was at work. About his daughter Bindi, he said she was " the reason why he was put on the Earth." His wife said : "The only thing that could take him away from the animals he loves are the people he loves even more. " Although the Irwins were happily married, they did not carry wedding rings , because in their work, wearing jewelery could be a danger to themselves and / or animals.

On the 4^th of September 2006, Irwin was really hurt by a stingray while filming a plunge near Batt Reef (part of the Great Barrier Reef), off Port Douglas.

The death of Steve Irwin was completely filmed and Terri Irwin, Steve's wife, put it on the American channel Access Hollywood. The document has since been destroyed to avoid public broadcast. Steve Irwin 's parents refused a national ceremony given by the Prime Minister, favouring a more intimate funeral.

Luis & Ibrahim