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As an American that greatly admires the beauty and complexity of all the members of the Animal Kingdom, I greatly enjoyed what Steve Irwin did for all of us: making us better appreciate many of the animals that we share this planet with. I will miss Steve's great enthusiasm for the crocodile and other animals that he brought to us on his television shows.
__________________
Sincerely,
Kevin
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Kevin A. Kirby, DPM
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Applied Biomechanics
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College
Without discounting all that Steve Irwin has done for wildlife conservation and the Austrailian Zoo, little really is noted as to what Mr. Irwin did, and that was to antagonize an animal which was minding its own buisness, so that it would perform infront of the cameras. He would get close, camera, action, stop!
The stingray which is usually a docile creature became nervous as Irwin floated on top of it and used its God given defense mechanism to attack. The stingray didn't know that Mr. Irwin wasn't going to hurt it as he provoked the stingray to perform for the cameras. Its an obvious stroke of bad luck that the spine hit him right in the heart, but those who play with fire one too many times, eventually get burned. And as interesting of a fellow, Mr. Irwin was I suppose it was regretfully his time.
Without question Steve was no St Francis and his comand of animal husbandry was such , he well knew the risks of invading space and was prepared to take these risks for the entertainment of others. Bear baters and lion tamers have done this since the beginning of society.
However what I think was significant in his demise was Sreve is the first celebrity (in today's celebrity culture to die). The X, Y and Z generation have not had to consider that event in one of their own. Steve's larrikin appeal across the generations brought out an instant need to mourn the passing of a good guy (not always perfect but all the more lovable. The same reaction to the public outporing of grief was witnessed with Lady Diana, John Lennon, and JFK).
Two things separate ourselves from other species on this planet. We try to prevent and treat disease and we stive to entertain each other. Steve Irwin certainly did both (extend treatment to environmental awareness), and for me I will remember him as he was not what he may now become.
Without discounting all that Steve Irwin has done for wildlife conservation and the Austrailian Zoo, little really is noted as to what Mr. Irwin did, and that was to antagonize an animal which was minding its own buisness, so that it would perform infront of the cameras. He would get close, camera, action, stop!
The stingray which is usually a docile creature became nervous as Irwin floated on top of it and used its God given defense mechanism to attack. The stingray didn't know that Mr. Irwin wasn't going to hurt it as he provoked the stingray to perform for the cameras. Its an obvious stroke of bad luck that the spine hit him right in the heart, but those who play with fire one too many times, eventually get burned. And as interesting of a fellow, Mr. Irwin was I suppose it was regretfully his time.
Rather than blaming Steve Irwin for provoking "the stingray to perform for the cameras", which newspaper accounts say did not happen in the first place, we should remember that the same type of freak accident in which Steve Irwin lost his life could happen to anyone performing their daily duties, whether considered dangerous or not. What would some uncaring observer say about a podiatrist being hit and killed by a drunk driver while riding their bike home from work: "The podiatrist was risking his life and putting himself in danger by needlessly riding his bike home from work on the same street that cars also use for travel. But those that play with fire too many times, eventually get burned. And as interesting of a fellow, Dr. Toe was I suppose it was regretfully his time."??
Toejamdoc, whoever you are, you should give Steve Irwin, one of the most likable and entertaining wildlife experts the world has ever known, the same respect that you would give any other individual that is killed by a freak accident......nothing more....nothing less.
__________________
Sincerely,
Kevin
**************************************************
Kevin A. Kirby, DPM
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Applied Biomechanics
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College
Unless the video is ever released (which I doubt) we will never know exactly why the stingray struck...just that it happened to pierce his heart. Just about anywhere else & he'd have survived.
Quote:
you should give Steve Irwin, one of the most likable and entertaining wildlife experts the world has ever known, the same respect that you would give any other individual that is killed by a freak accident......nothing more....nothing less.
Hear, hear!
I think if you have kids and saw the way his enthusiasm was able to draw them into a learning experience then you would appreciate what a loss Steve Irwin is to the world. (Far more beneficial to the world than a princess IMHO)
The "antagonising" of crocodiles you speak of only refers to a small part of his "work". What good is an animal park if you can't see the animals? (Freshwater Crocs stay underwater mostly murky water for quite long periods.) The attendances at the park, the TV shows and the Movie funded the conservation reserves that are not attended by the public, the tagging, releasing and tracking of Crocodiles, the native animal hospital at Australia Zoo and the population studies.
I'd say the good FAR outweighs the bad. History will reflect that.
As I drum into my kids (in the hope of raising good husbands & fathers) the most important thing he ever did was love his wife and his kids. I'm happier for him to be their role model than some moronic philanderer who happens to throw a ball straight. (Shane Warne)
Dear toejamdoc, crossing you off my xmas card list mate, what angst he gave any animal would surely be outweighed by the education / awareness / appreciation? that the viewing public would receive hopefully for the benefit of that species good, mark c
Mark, No doubt. No one ever questioned Mr. Irwins animal species education to a world wide audience. But truth be told, as much as no one wants to hear it.
He did pay/make the ultimate sacrifice at all of our expense for our own need for education of the animal kingdom. I too know more about wildlife concervation and Crocs than before Mr. Irwin. We share much grief in Steve Irwins death.
Crocodile Hunter Dead
Hybrid Mode
