Crikey, Jennifer. Couldn't you have refrained from knocking Steve, one day after his tragic death?

Your clinical appraisal of Steve's endeavours reveals your insensitivities to a unique Ozzie who had the courage of his convictions and without fear or favour!

Are you condoning the return of the big game hunters to take out our crocs? I am not opposed to humane culling if numbers of certain species become uncontrollable, however, for you to appear to promote the sport of "guns for fun" is simply repulsive!

Surely, we are not that cash strapped that we would be forced to revert to the barbaric practices of the past!

The timing of your comments too was particularly indecent, since only today, two "charming gentlemen" were charged over the obscene shooting of 40 odd seals.

Jennifer

I totally concur with dickie's first sentence. You have shown remarkably poor taste. Shame on you.

Kay

It is interesting that Jenifer noted the Chinese River Dolphin. This species is on the verge of extinction (only a few dozen, and as few as thirteen are thought to survive). Exactly what pragmatic approach do you propse we take to saving this creature? The population has been decimated, not primarily because of poaching (although illegal hunting has occured), but because of chemical pollution, the building of dams, entanglement in fishing nets and prey reduction.

How on Earth would we implement a quota system on a species that has been reduced to such incredibly low numbers? In what manner would a "pragmatic" approach to the conservaation of this species occur? I would have to agree with Steve Irwin on this case.

ChrisC,

As I wrote in the article, I think Steve Irwin made a unique contribution to conservation... showing us animals up close and personal.

But I can't remember him showing us pictures of the baiji, the freshwater dolphins in the Yangtze? Perhaps if he had, there might have been a great effort towards conservation of the baiji?

This is what I wrote with respect to the baiji:

"The survival of tigers in India, freshwater dolphins in China and elephants in Africa may require a less personal and more pragmatic approach to wildlife conservation."

I wasn't think 'quotas' w.r.t. the dophins when I wrote 'pragmatic' in the above sentence, but I was thinking quotas in the context of Africa's elephants.

I have put some effort recently into researching the baiji... and thinking about the potentially most pragmatic approach to their conservation.

Dr Webb is right on the science but Steve Irwin was a victor in the publicity stakes. Contolled harvesting of crocs would be a wise move. Thats got nothing to do with knocking the bloke.

[Deleted and posted suspended for one month.]

Steve Irwin was just out albying albi mangels, and to greater profit.
His death is sad but consistent with the risks he took. In all probability he would have wrestled the last River Dolphin for the camera as well.

And as for the NT Crocodiles, his position was pure self interest. It was OK for him to tease them with food for the camera, OK for him to keep them in a Zoo and wrestle them for the punters, but not OK for someone else to market them to a high value adding niche group such as hunters under strict quota.

And this, considering that he had no objection to eating beef from farmed animals, makes him first and foremost, a self serving Hypocrite.

So spare us all this moronic "Saint Steve of the Croc Bog" [deleted for obscenity] and get a life. What next, Elton John does another rewrite of Candle in the Wind? Beattie offers state funeral? Baaarrrfff.

In regards to comments made by Perseus on Tuesday 5th September 2006 10:26pm. Do you have any idea how pathetic your comments were? Steve Irwin is not a hypocrite - in any sense of the word. He never teased animals for the sake of the camera. You have obviously never gone to his Zoo, if you had, you would see how the animals there receive the best care, the facilities are more than adequate. People around the world have stated that it is one of the best Zoo's in the world. Show-boat behaviour is what people in the modern day and age get off on. We take pleasure at laughing at people's misfortune. If your comments had any weight of truth in them, think about your comments next time you laugh at an animal on the funniest video show. so would that make those people hypocrites as well. you get a life and shame on you for slandering a great name just one day after his death. his wife hadn't even had a chance to view his body or say farewell and here you sit with those damaging words, insensitive.

Well said daka.

Here, here dakadaka,

Not to mention that most of his profit that Perseus mentions went back into conservation.

His unique and colourful personality helped make people sit-up and pay attention to the issue of wildlife conservation - unlike some of the more lifeless (and more qualified) characters who, as passionate as they are, just don't grab anyone's attention or provoke any interest in the topic.

I think some of the right-wing lunatics who mock Steve Irwin are just jealous that they have the charisma of a cardboard cut-out compared to him...empty vessels full of nothing but air.

Why is there a push to prevent the release of the final film footage?
He didn't actually die in the water so the film footage is only of a mishap. Is there something on that film that may put his death in a different light?

If he wasn't molesting the Ray then the footage would hardly need censoring. But given his past record, and the fact that his stated purpose in going there was to film "dangerous" sea creatures, it is highly unlikely that his own actions played no part in the Ray's response.

It is the norm for the coroner to investigate the circumstances of any death and there is a clear public interest in this case. Yet, we have a move by those close to Irwin to justify the removal and/or destruction of evidence. And this may be a criminal offence.

Actually Perseus, apparently he did die in the water. John Stainton saw the footage, and said that Steve was alive just long enough to pull the barb out of his chest.
The footage was of his death, and the idea of releasing that for public viewing is pretty distasteful. I certainly hope they don't. How would the family feel?

yes it was also stated, that the tape was to be destroyed after the investigation.
Pay attention peoples. This is something that shouldn't be of debate. He died in the water. The tape will be dealt with at the discretion of the family and the police. We should be honouring the great, not dissing his name or the person that he was

Peruser or whatever youre name is...
You must be fat ugly bald and be obnoxious to the opposite sex..who else but a speciman such as that be so jealous toward someone he knows nothing about in his real life.

Your the reason all intelligent and decent Aussies really cringe....'sit-on-your-fat-butt' and whinge about everything but do nout yourself.
Theres a word that sums up those of your ilk..starts with capital 'L' and ends with capital 'R'.

I am with Steve Irwin, who has been so tragically lost to us, and and against the leaders of the so-called 'crocodile conservation program' in the Northern Territory.

Even though the $10,000 that wealthy tourists would use to pay for the right to kill a crocodile could be put to good use, that $10,000 would more than likely have been paid for by environmental destruction in other parts of the globe.

Some means, other than pandering to the blood lust of some of the mega-wealthy, need to be found in order to preserve our endangered wildllife.

For anyone to call Steve Irwin a hypocrite is a shame. This man's enthusiam and passion for life seemed genuine--nothing phony about him. I understand that some Australians were embarassed by him, by some of his antics and over-the-top energetic personality.

I found him to be charming and fun, but also serious and sincere--a loving man with huge praise for his wife and kids and for the world that deeply fascinated him.

Yes, he made some mistakes, but for anyone to knock him without truly knowing what went on in his thinking is unfair and judgmental.

His passion for animals is what took his life--yet I doubt he would of changed his life's mission--for he said he would die for his cause of animal conservation. Like Steve, I was born with a huge love for animals. I don't have it in me to ever be so daring as Steve was, but I adore these creatures. Am I a hypocrite for eating meat?

Many of us in America enjoyed Steve Irwin and will miss him. I do not think he should be an embarassment for Australians. How many people actually love what they do for a living? Not many. At the moment, not me. A job can be drudgery. For Steve, work was passionate and meaningful as was his zest for life itself.

I think he really lived life to the fullest, more so in his short stay on earth than many do in a long lifetime.

He was quite unique and will be greatly missed.

Pertussis...Alby Mangels was pathetic ...I didnt see Irwin with a bevy of scrubbers in bikinis hanging off him.

G'day Americandee

Many thanks for your post mate. Well spoken. We had a friend over for a BBQ on the weekend. He has worked for Steven Irwin. He said that Steve was undoubtedly devoted to everything that he did - and that he was genuine in everything that he did.

Apparently the family funeral service was around a camp fire. How appropriate. Steve is now buried at his wonderful Australia Zoo. We live about half an hour away.

I spent last evening creating a personal card for Kerri, the kids, and grandfather Bob. It was a cartoon of underwater sea life - apart from stingrays of course.

There will be a state memorial service next Tuesday or Wednesday. Officials and police are having a hard time working out the venue - since our largest here in Brisbane only takes 50,000 people - and there are many more than that who want to attend the memorial.

Cheers
Kay

Steve Irwin.. a man of some talents yes!
But an Aussie icon? He didnt even marry an Aussie!

Saviuor...If I didnt know any better...Id say you werev PK, but anyway..what has choice of partner got to do with anything at all?

She was more Australian in spirit than most Australians...she is, I should say..

She married Steve because she loved him...and your wife ?is she pure aussie? what ever that is these days?
Look very deeply into her family tree ,you could be surprised..

That was just a dumb statement...you got a bite..feel better now?

And would you like to expand on how that makes Irwin any less of a man?

He left Australia because it is well known that Australia doesnt support its most intelligent and ambitious pple...they ,actors, research,university leavers etc..go to America and England etc so they may develop theyre talents beyond the 2 cell stage..

The attitude you display right there saying he had no right to not marry an aussie girl is not the general consensus in these 2 countries , they like to give anyone a break who thinks they can cut it...the one thing I DO like about America actually.They also stick by their own..and they fight for their country.

That cannot be said for Aussies..otherwise our talent would stay right here.

If we want our stars to stay within our shores..attitudes like that and some others displayed...shows it wont happen anytime soon.
Be proud to be Australian and be happy for those who succeed in spite of the lack of support by their own.

Thanks Kay for the post.

Australians would be and should beproud if they knew that Steve Irwin's death got HUGE coverage by American news media, and the like. On Animal Planet, on Cable TV, they are conintually showing his shows and Croc Files as a tribute to the man.

I just think Steve was a fun character, with a genuine sweetness and devotion for life. Some think he pestered animals, but I don't think he wanted to do that. He seemed to want to be as one with them.

As for someone critcizing the fact that Terri Irwin is not Australian, that just makes her and Steve as a couple even more unique. The fact that she had chosen to leave her native homeland to live with the man that she loved, and is raising her kids up to be Australian, should be commendable.

Everyone I know enjoyed watching Steve Irwin. He was just so loveable. We liked his Aussie accent, his "different-ness", his sense of adventure, his constant excitement, his enjoyment of family, and his desire for nature. His death reminds me to enjoy life, and if you don't like what you do for a living--go for the gusto!

He will be missed.

Dorothy

Americandee (Dorothy)

Thanks for your post and kind words about Steve and family. We are very proud of him.

For your interest, Terri has decided against a large state memorial - instead she has opted for a service at Australia Zoo at 9am next Wednesday morning (our time). There will be about 5,000 people in attendance. John Williamson (Australian Bush Balladeer) will be singing "True Blue". Russell Crowe has written a poem about Steve which he is sending by cable to Terri and family. There will no doubt be many other celebrities in attendance. Ther service will be televised and shown all around planet earth.

Cheers
Kay

Americandee

Hi there again. There are some horrible people in this world. There are Aussie sharks who are selling free tickets on E_Bay! How low can you go!?

Terri and family gave, to the public of Qld, 3,000 tickets to the Aus Zoo Memorial Service. Four per person. Some rotten so-called /aussies are now selling them on E_Bay. Please warn people of this disgusting practice. Please ask fellow Americans not to pay for these tickets - many thousands of dollars!

Regards
Kay