Wildlife Warrior, Steve Irwin.

     

A great hero is someone who has a willingness to do anything and everything to ensure that his voice is heard and the causes he is for fighting is successful. The passion that he has towards a cause almost overwhelms his entire being that he is willing to put himself in danger and even welcome death should his time is up. One fine example was Stephen Robert Irwin aka Steve “The Crocodile Hunter” Irwin, a great naturalist who cared deeply about preserving the wildlife that he had done numerous efforts toward the conservation of wildlife.

Steve’s most effective form of effort is through his world-famous television series, “The Crocodile Hunter”. The series is airing in more than 120 countries around the globe with a weekly audience 10 times the population of Australia itself. According to Steve Irwin in the Crocodile Hunter’s website in 1996, their aim with the show is to “continue producing more wildlife programs to entertain and enlightened… Our job in this world is to bring misunderstood and feared animals right into your house, so that we can share and learn about the world’s wildlife.” Steve has also starred in several movies such as Dr. Doolittle 2 alongside Eddie Murphy and his own full-feature movie, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision course.

Steve might have gained a lot of money through his media work, but he channeled most of it into wildlife conservation. He was the founder of Wildlife Warriors Worldwide (formerly named the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation) which sole purpose is toward the conservation of animals. It protects habitat and wildlife, creates breeding and rescue programs for endangered species, and leads scientific research to aid conservation. Other that that, Steve also founded the Lyn Irwin Memorial Fund. It was to honor his mother who died in an accident in 2009. All donations made to the fund went directly to the Iron Bark Station Wildlife Rehabilitation Center which manages 3,450 acres of wildlife sanctuary.

With all the money and donations that he received, Steve Irwin also used them in his field work in maintaining the Australia Zoo. It was originally a reptile park owned by the Irwins, but Steve later renamed it as Australia Zoo after it has gained much popularity and housed enough animal species to be called a zoo. The zoo was expanded to accommodate various wildlife shows to entertain while educate the public. They are allowed to get up close and personal with a wide array of beautiful animals handled by zookeepers, whom they are able to chat with to gain more information about the animals. The property includes 83 acres of land, which houses 1000 species of animals with an in-house wildlife hospital to conveniently treat injured or ailed animals. Steve’s worldwide conservation program, Wildlife Warriors Worldwide is also stationed there, alongside a quarterly newsletter. Most of the crocodiles kept in the zoo came from Australian government’s Crocodile Relocation Program which Steve took part in during his younger days. The program calls for trapping crocodiles that strayed too close to population area where Steve either transferred them to suitable places back into wildlife or rear them at the Irwins’ park.

Steve may have done many methods in his effort to raise awareness among the public and conserve the wildlife, but his unique personality was the crucial thread that had sewn  all the pieces which are his media work, charities and causes, and field work into one colourful fabric of success. His passion for wildlife conservation convinces people while his loveable, charismatic manner and infectious enthusiasm attracts the public’s attention and made him a hero to millions. Steve also has a fun, larger than life personality. His childlike manner and Aussie larrikinism made protecting wildlife an easy and fun thing to do. It made him a figure of fun and adoration that has invited some criticism, but his sincerity, passion and dedication in saving planet Earth could never be denied. Steve Irwin died in his elements in 2006, but all his efforts through his media work, charity and causes, field work and the personality to boot lived on in the hearts of millions as a hero known and loved by all as the “Crocodile Hunter.