Today, Steve Irwin would have been 57 years old. And he'd be still going strong, planning his next excursion to some corner of the world. However, he was taken from us too soon; killed in an accident with a stingray. Faithful to his ideals to the very end, Steve's last words, according to the crew, were that the stingray didn't mean to hurt him.
I remember exactly where I was when I learned Steve Irwin died. I was nine years old and sitting in the living room of my house when the news came up; the headline that read something like “Crocodile Hunter Killed by Stingray”. I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a mistake. I was inconsolable for the next few hours. My childhood idol, dead before his time. Here is what he taught both myself and others.
Steve Irwin taught me that nature is fragile and must be protected; a message imperative in an age where it is being slowly destroyed at the hands of human beings. In an age where we are so disconnected from the natural world, Steve's insight in our depredations of nature made me realise that nature needed to be cherished and protected.
Steve Irwin taught me to see beauty in every living creature; that there are no "bad" animals, only intolerant humans. To Irwin, crocodiles, snakes and sharks were not creatures to be feared and hated, but to be loved and admired. These creatures lost their greatest champion the day he died.
Someone once said that, if animals go to heaven, Steve Irwin would be standing at the gates to greet them. And they would be absolutely right. This was a man who, reportedly, eulogised a dead lizard he'd found; not a particularly rare or interesting lizard. He was that caring a man.
However, his passion for animals lasted far beyond his death. It ignited, burned, and spread in the hearts of the people who grew up watching The Crocodile Hunter, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and The Croc Files. It was fanned by the appreciation of the conservationists who recognized his contributions to the cause. It continues to be kindled in the work done by Australia Zoo, the zoo founded and run by Irwin’s family, and Steve’s very own Wildlife Warriors conservation organization.
Rest in peace, Steve Irwin. Know that your legacy is still being carried on by the people you inspired. And know that your memory will never die.
I remember exactly where I was when I learned Steve Irwin died. I was nine years old and sitting in the living room of my house when the news came up; the headline that read something like “Crocodile Hunter Killed by Stingray”. I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a mistake. I was inconsolable for the next few hours. My childhood idol, dead before his time. Here is what he taught both myself and others.
Steve Irwin taught me that nature is fragile and must be protected; a message imperative in an age where it is being slowly destroyed at the hands of human beings. In an age where we are so disconnected from the natural world, Steve's insight in our depredations of nature made me realise that nature needed to be cherished and protected.
Steve Irwin taught me to see beauty in every living creature; that there are no "bad" animals, only intolerant humans. To Irwin, crocodiles, snakes and sharks were not creatures to be feared and hated, but to be loved and admired. These creatures lost their greatest champion the day he died.
Someone once said that, if animals go to heaven, Steve Irwin would be standing at the gates to greet them. And they would be absolutely right. This was a man who, reportedly, eulogised a dead lizard he'd found; not a particularly rare or interesting lizard. He was that caring a man.
However, his passion for animals lasted far beyond his death. It ignited, burned, and spread in the hearts of the people who grew up watching The Crocodile Hunter, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and The Croc Files. It was fanned by the appreciation of the conservationists who recognized his contributions to the cause. It continues to be kindled in the work done by Australia Zoo, the zoo founded and run by Irwin’s family, and Steve’s very own Wildlife Warriors conservation organization.
Rest in peace, Steve Irwin. Know that your legacy is still being carried on by the people you inspired. And know that your memory will never die.
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