Croc Hunter dies

[Rowan CedarWolf]

Just thought I would post this here as we as pagans are nature based and Steve Irwin was such an animal ally, saving the animals most wanted dead. It is such a loss to the animals he could have helped and now can not
such a tragedy

[NachtSorcier]

From what I saw, he made a living out of pissing animals off.

[Shadow]

From what I saw, he made a living out of pissing animals off.

Perhaps you should pay a bit more attention.

He devoted his life, since his childhood, to protecting the animals he worked with.  His zoo, started by his father is a model for the treatment of animals and the education of those who might otherwise ignorantly want those same species destroyed in the interest of human safety or civilized development.

What may look like irritating an animal to you was most likely the fact that he never, unless absolutely necessary (such as in the case of surgery), used any anesthetic to subdue an animal because of the greater side effect of the chemical restraint.  He and his team put themselves in greater danger to lessen the impact of their activities on those animlas.

He has traveled the world rescuing animals, including in war zones (yes there are other countries fighting around the world besides in the middle east), and furthering our understanding of the interconnectedness of all of the species of this earth.

He was a personal hero of my son who is quite distraught over his death.  We have even had communication with him in the past via e-mail.

He was a down to earth conservationist  and will be sorely missed.  He is survived by his wife (an American by birth) and his daughter Bindie(who is a little younger than my own son), and his father (as my mother and grandmother put it, no parent should have to bury their child it's supposed to be the other way around.

Our family will be lighting a candle for his family.

[Rowan CedarWolf]

Thank you Shadow. I feel the same way and my children are devastated as well. I feel the world has suffered a great loss. My husband, son and myself lit a candle for him (safe journey, may his spirit soar) and tonight we will light one for his family as well.

[Shadow]

I just found out that he was filming a documentary with his daughter when this accident happened.  The film company plans to distribute the footage even though his wife Terry is opposed it.  I happen to agree with Terry, I think airing the footage would be in bad taste.  Makes me glad we gave up cable television.

Again, safe journey Steve, and condolences to his family.

[Rowan CedarWolf]

Actually his daughter wasn't with him she was with terri in tasmania. He was recordng footage for his daughter's show,becuase they could not record for his documentary due to weather conditons, from what I have read the video tape of his death is in the hands of the police and there were no plans to distribute it to the public, When questioned about it his producer said it was too tragic and would not be released for public viewing.
at least this is what the associated press is reporting. I hope it's true. No one needs to see that, thats just morbid.

[Anonymous]

Actually his daughter wasn't with him she was with terri in tasmania. He was recordng footage for his daughter's show,becuase they could not record for his documentary due to weather conditons, from what I have read the video tape of his death is in the hands of the police and there were no plans to distribute it to the public, When questioned about it his producer said it was too tragic and would not be released for public viewing.
at least this is what the associated press is reporting. I hope it's true. No one needs to see that, thats just morbid.

That's correct I think, it's what I've heard on the news.

Kids in schools here have been offered counselling to help them with the loss of a true Ozzie hero.

I feel like he should have gone down fighting with a shark or a croc or a tiger or something - not a stingray. It seems so...unfair.

Only about 14 people in the world have been killed by rays (I think - random fact heard at some point over the past couple of days).

Steve Irwin was awesome - bloody mental b*****d, but so funny, and enthusiastic, and an all round good egg.

He is survived by his wife (an American by birth) and his daughter Bindie(who is a little younger than my own son), and his father

He also has a 3 year old son, Bob.

My thoughts are with his family right now.

~Rowena

[Anonymous]

It just sucks.  He seemed like such a nice guy, so full of life.  Kids everywhere just loved him.  I've heard many people say that this will be a "JFK" moment for children, that they'll always remember where they were when they heard the news.  

It always hurts when someone is taken early in life, but for some reason this has been especially painful.  I'm kind of amazed about how the whole world is grieving for this man, who was not royalty, not a president, not even a high caliber movie star.  He was just a simple guy doing a job he loved.  I agree with Rowena that he should have gone out fighting, wrestling something with teeth, rather than dying from a virtual "sucker punch" that he never even saw coming.  With all the risks he took, we all knew his luck would run out eventually, but it was still a shock when it finally happened.  I hope his family will be able to get through this.  Going through a tragic loss is hard enough, but being in the public eye makes it even worse. Yup, it sucks.  

[Shadow]

Didn't remember about his son.  I've been out of touch since we decided to give up cable TV.  My own son's interests have moved to other things so I haven't been to the zoo's web site in a long time.

The whole thing I heard about them wanting to air the footage is most likely urban myth, or just some trash producer wanting to get his hands on it.  My info has come primarily from bits and pieces I've heard on the local radio station here in Florida, been too busy to do any more than look up the original article about his death on the net.

[Anonymous]

I've always been into reptiles so Steve Irwin was a great inspiration and so good to watch on TV.   He had a passion that not many others are lucky enough to have.

He'll be missed in our household.

[Ara]

I miss him.  In our athletic training class, we fans of him had a good cry.  He was a good man.  

Rock on, Croc hunter.  Rock on.

Peace and love
~Ara