Samantha Rowe Mrs.

Terrian English 11A 10/12/12 Steve Irwin: Father, Husband, Crocodile Hunter As a father, husband, and animal lover, Steve Irwin was a very influential and inspiring person. He demonstrated a kind, caring, and fun-loving personality. Throughout his life, he dealt with controversies, but not once did he fall down. If he were to fall, he stood right back up. This makes him quite the person to look up to. Steve shared a very close relationship with his father, Bob Irwin. They spent most of their time outdoors, enjoying nature. Bob had a massive interest in wildlife which contributed to Steves obsession with nature. Bob taught him to love and respect all aspects of nature and wildlife. Steve earned most of his unique personality traits from his father. In fact, one of Irwins childhood friends, Tony Piscitelli, once said, Dad thought he was always a little crazy. He was, I suppose (Baker 14). Not only did Irwin share a close relationship with his father, but he also spent a lot of time with his mother, Lyn Irwin. When Steve was a child, he moved with his parents to Queensland, Australia. Here, he attended Landsborough State School and Caloundra State High School. Being a major influence in Irwins life, his parents never controlled his lifestyle. They never made decisions he wasnt comfortable with. What Bob and Lyn truly wanted was for him to be able to make his own choices and form his own opinions on how his life would unfold. Irwins parents influenced him in a way that made him want to be a similar parent to his own children.

Rowe 6 Quite early in his life, Steve was introduced to nature and wildlife. This was a world unknown to quite a few toddlers, but with him, it was different. How come that kid never got killed by that brown snake? That kids got something, Bob Irwin once said about his son (Baker 13). His father was a wildlife expert who was interested in herpetology. Irwins mother, on the other hand, was a wildlife rehabilitator. After moving to Queensland, Steves parents started a small wildlife park called Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park. Here, Irwin grew up around many reptiles, including one his name is known for and associated with: the crocodile. Steve quickly became involved with the park in numerous ways. He took part in daily animal feeding as well as care and maintenance activities. At a very young age, Irwin began handling dangerous animals, mostly reptiles. Steve first handled crocodiles at the age of nine. Besides helping out at his parents wildlife park, he also worked as a volunteer for Queenslands East Coast Crocodile Management program. While volunteering, he captured over 100 crocodiles; some of which were relocated; others were housed at the family park. After learning so much about nature and animals, Steve had no desire to continue his education at a university. His main goal in life was to be passionate about wildlife. Irwin took over the management of the family park in 1991 and renamed it The Australian Zoo. Steve became a herpetologist just as his father was. He is also known for being a naturalist, zoologist, conversationalist, and a television personality. In the year of 1991, Steve met a woman at The Australian Zoo. She was just the average American girl who never thought a simple trip to the zoo could change her whole life. They had met coincidentally while Steve had been working. They claimed it was love at first sight; four months later, they were engaged. On June 4th, 1992, Steve Irwin had married Terri Raines. After

Rowe 6 six years of marriage, Steve and Terri felt there was a missing link in their relationship and decided to start a family. Their first bundle of joy arrived on July 24th, 1998, with the name of Bindi Sue Irwin. The story behind Bindis name is rather meaningful. Her first name is derived from Steves favorite crocodile, Bindi. The second portion of her name originates from the name of Steves much loved dog, Sui. Sui was revived on the operating table after she had supposedly died. The day Sui passed away, the Irwins cried for hours on end and had a small memorial service in their backyard. They felt that their daughter was worthy of holding the name of such a wonderful dog; therefore, this is why he named his new found love after his old one. Steve and Terris second child arrived on June 23rd, 2003. The name he received also came from something important to Steve. They named their second child Robert Clarence Bob Irwin. Robert was named after Steves father, the man who taught him everything he knew. Steves parents were a major influence in his life. They taught him to love wildlife as well as they had. His main goal and desire in life was to love and treat wildlife in the same careful, caring way his parents had. Steve always wanted his children to be brought up into the same positive environment he had been. He wished for them to grow in their own way, not in a way they were forced and certainly not in his shadow. He wanted them to be able to be known for something other than The Crocodile Hunters Kid. Referring to his eldest child, Steve once said, Bindi has to earn her own money. She has to earn respect (Baker 64). He said this, not with greed, but in anticipation of the person he knew she would become. On January 2nd, 2004, a controversial incident occurred during a public show. Steve was seen carrying his one-month-old son, Bob, in his arm while hand feeding a chicken carcass to his 3.8 meter crocodile, Murray. Many compared this incident to Michael Jacksons dangling his son

Rowe 6 outside a German hotel window incident. Soon thereafter, Steve was criticized for numerous reasons. Child welfare groups, animal rights groups, and some of his television viewers were quick to judge his actions as tantamount to child abuse and irresponsible. Irwin apologized on the NBC Today Show to all of his television viewers, everyone else who criticized him, and even to his own son. He and his wife publically stated that Steve was in complete control of the situation. Irwin was well aware of what he was doing because he had been handling crocodiles since he was very young and based on his experience, neither he nor his son were in any danger whatsoever. Another major controversy in Irwins life occurred in June of 2004 where allegations were made that he disturbed wildlife mainly whales, seals, and penguins while filming a documentary, Ice Breaker, in Australia. The matter was closed without any charges being laid. Steve was also criticized for having an unsophisticated view of conversation in Australia. His views seemed more linked to tourism than to the problems Australia faces as a continent. Cows have been on our land for so long that Australia has evolved to handle those big animals, Irwin responded to questions of Australias problems with overgrazing, salinity, and erosion. From the first lesson his father taught him, to the very last lesson he taught his television viewers, Steve was constantly learning. Whether it was learning something he didnt have knowledge of, or teaching what he knew, Irwin always showed love and compassion for wildlife. My belief is that what comes across on the television is a capture of my enthusiasm and my passion for wildlife, Steve said referring to his TV persona (Baker 127). One of the biggest lessons Irwin learned was that the perfect job in life for him was the one he loved doing; the most important job is one he never could hate. He learned that in life, he didnt have to do what other people wanted him to do. He realized that he was able to make his own decisions, and do

Rowe 6 whatever it was that made him happy. Steve learned that finding something he had a passion for and sticking with it was the best way to accomplish his goals. His biggest passion was his concern for the safety of wildlife. I have no fear of losing my life if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it, Steve said regarding his love for animals (Baker 127). One of Irwins major accomplishments was the catching of an unknown turtle on a fishing line during a camping trip with his family in 1990. Not only was the species new to him, but it was also new to his father. Steve took photographs of the organism and sent them to a turtle authority, John Cann. After Irwins death, Cann had determined the animal was a new species and the species was later named after Steve. Steve took place in many television shows and movies. Most of the shows or movies he took part in simply portrayed his real life character. The main television show, the show he is well known for, was The Crocodile Hunter (1997 2004). He also appeared in Dr. Doolittle 2, Mystery Hunters, an episode of The Fairly Odd Parents, 5 Takes: Pacific Rim, Happy Feet, Oceans Deadliest, and his daughters show: Bindi the Jungle Girl. All of the money Irwin received from taking part in these television shows and movies went towards protecting and saving wildlife. He donated the money to his charity Wildlife Warriors; this was another major accomplishment of his. Steve changed many peoples views on endangered species and wildlife altogether by simply doing something that he loved. After Steves death, many more donations were made to his charity for wildlife. In fact, every ten minutes, fifty-five donations were made to Wildlife Warriors. However, after Irwin passed away, there were actions being made that werent so thrilling. Many people attempted to get revenge attacks on sting rays in order to avenge Steves

Rowe 6 passing. I would never blame an animal if it bit me, that is, for sure, because Im at fault, not them, he once told an interviewer (Baker 125). Therefore, Irwin would not blame the stingray for piercing his chest; Steve would most likely come up with something he did wrong, even if it were something as little as moving a finger in the wrong direction. Steve Irwin is a role model to many people. He demonstrated that you do not have to pursue an education in order to live a good life. He proved that in order to have a stable, satisfying job, you are able to do what you love. Irwin was an outstanding, wonderful, lively character and surely deserves all the attention he received. He wanted to prove that animals are as important as humans, and he sure did. He accomplished so much in his life, and is definitely someone to look up to. Steve once said, We dont own the planet Earth, we belong to it (Baker 127).