Opinion - Editorials

Wildlife warrior

He was an icon for millions of fans across the world, an ebullient spirit who found all things wild to be beautiful. Steve Irwin, the `Crocodile Hunter' from Australia, relished wild adventure with a rare spirit. He seemed most relaxed when he was close to the jaws of mortal danger. He cast a wondrous spell over children by getting hands-on with wild animals. He was always pushing the limits, sometimes controversially, to produce some of the most thrilling television footage. His close-range subjects extended from jaw-snapping crocodiles to cobras that could spit blinding venom. It is a great pity that such a feisty nature lover should be felled by a stingray, a small sea creature that responds by inflicting only a painful but generally non-lethal barb when it feels threatened. Irwin devoted himself to ridding people of their deep and primeval fear of the wild. After all, death is an ever-present risk in the wilderness. The saga of Steve the wildlife warrior underscores the timeless truth that weak and cerebral humans may not know enough about wild creatures that have no emotion and are hardwired for survival.

The death of Irwin at age 44 will refocus the debate among wildlife filmmakers on drawing the boundaries of good sense and taste in the pursuit of exciting footage. About three years ago, the world heard the sad story of naturalist Timothy Treadwell, who single-mindedly worked for conservation of Alaskan bears, and his girlfriend. Both were found dead during a filming event in Alaska, apparently killed by their beloved subject, a brown bear. Irwin triggered outrage in Australia and elsewhere by the idiotic act of cradling his baby son in one hand while feeding a captive crocodile at dangerously close range in his zoo; and even making the baby toddle up quite close to the feeding crocodile. Clearly, this was a case of daredevil exhibitionism suppressing good sense as well as sensitivity to how others in society might feel. His adrenaline-driven relationship with wildlife, encouraged in part by high impact television, stood in contrast to the composed, science-based documentary style of wildlife filmmakers such as David Attenborough. But there can be no doubt that Irwin's spontaneous, irrepressible, larger-than-life style and signature exclamations like `Crikey!' made him the idol he was — and his international television series a phenomenal success. His close friend, the actor Russell Crowe, captured the essence of the man perfectly: "he was the Australian we all aspire to be." There is a sense of shock that "the ultimate wildlife warrior" who feared almost nothing, experienced serious bites mainly from parrots and was perfectly at home grappling with crocodiles and handling deadly snakes, should be killed at the height of his powers in so simple and freakish a manner. To legions of `Crocodile Hunter' fans round the world, the Steve Irwin legacy is one of abiding love and respect for all life on earth.

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