He was larger than life.Steve Irwin made sure that his viewers and fans treated their life as one big adventure. He advocated exploration, getting close to animals, and getting "the wilds into people's hearts" (Larry King interview).
My husband and I were shocked first, then saddened when we heard the news of his death yesterday afternoon. By the evening, we lapsed back into denial and anger!
But, as many articles and interviews pointed out, he died with his boots on, mate. What could be more fitting than how he did it: getting stung by a stingray barb underwater, close to his home in Queensland? Only a true adventurer, a true hero with a passion for saving the wildlife can go that way. He impressed me continuously with the way he brought animals closer to people. In fact, did you know that the Queensland government named a species of turtle after him, in recognition of his efforts at relocating and saving them? Try looking for the species Elseya Irwini.
He leaves behind his wife Terri and his two kids, Bindi Sue and Bob, who are just as enamored of the wildlife and the outdoors as he was. They travelled with Steve everywhere. "He could never be anywhere else. The only thing that could ever keep him away from the animals he loves are the people he loves even more."
We may never hear his "Crikey" battlecry again, but his philosophy and his message of environmental conservation will echo throughout the world.
This (animal) planet will never be the same without him.
*image sourced from http://disclexington.blogspot.com/
