BiologyCoachOnlineBlog

Today we shine our TBT spotlight on Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin.

Stephen Robert Irwin - known to his friends and fans as "Steve" and better known to the world as "The Crocodile Hunter," was an Australian wildlife expert, television personality, and conservationist. Steve Irwin achieved worldwide fame through his very popular documentary television series, "The Crocodile Hunter," which he co-hosted with his wife Terri. The couple together owned and operated the Australia Zoo (which was founded by Irwin's parents) in Beerwah.

Steve was born to Lyn (a wildlife rehabilitator) and Bob (a herpetologist) Irwin on 22 February, 1962. Steve began helping his parents at the Australia Zoo (the Queensland Reptile & Fauna Park at the time) when he was about six years old. He wrestled his first crocodile - under his father's supervision, of course - at age nine.

Steve and Terri Raines (a naturalist from Eugene, Oregon) met in 1991 during her visit to the Australian Zoo. The two were married in June, 1992. They had two children - a daughter (Bindi) and a son (Bob) together.

During his lifetime Steve made numerous television and film appearances (both here in the United States and abroad). Steve was also involved in a number of media campaigns promoting wildlife conservation as well Australia tourism, he led the efforts to rescue a pair of scuba divers off the coast of Baja Peninsula, Mexico (2003), and he received numerous honors including the Centenary Medal - awarded by the Australian government for his "service to global conservation and to Australian tourism," and the Australian Tourism Export of the Year award (2004).

Steve Irwin died in an ironic accident on 4 September, 2006. He was snorkeling in shallow water at Batt Reef, near Port Douglas, Queensland, when his heart was pierced by the barbed-tail of a Stingray. The Crocodile Hunter was only 44-years old.