Stephen Robert Irwin

Steve Irwin holding a baby crocodile

Steve Irwin was a wildlife expert born on February 22, 1962, in Essendon in Victoria, Australia. He was famous for his television show, The Crocodile Hunter. Steve grew up caring for animals at his parents’ wildlife park, which is now known as the Australia Zoo. He was concerned with conservation of endangered animals and land clearing which would lead to loss of habitat. He considered conservation to be the most important part of his work. He founded a charity by the name of the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, which was later renamed Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.

Steve Irwin and his Family

Steve met a woman named Terri Raines while she was on vacation in Australia. They later got married and spent part of their honeymoon flipping crocodiles. Their honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. The Crocodile Hunter has been a very successful show in the United States. Together, Terri and Steve had two children: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born July 24, 1998), and a son, Robert Clarence "Bob" Irwin (born December 1, 2003).

For his 6th birthday, Steve’s present was a python. He wrestled crocodiles, had pet snakes, and saved all kinds of animals. He was a very brave man and he loved wildlife and the environment. Steve was not just an ordinary person but an outgoing and adventurous type of guy. While other children were opening cans of pet food for their cats or dogs, Steve was out catching fish and hunting rodents to feed to his crocodiles and snakes. He loved his father very much because his father spent a lot of time with him growing up. His father had educated him about reptiles at an early age. He also learned to wrestle his first crocodile under his father's supervision.

Steve Irwin was piered and killed by a stingray

On September 4, 2006, Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray spine while snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef which is located off the coast of Port Douglas in Queensland. He was in the area filming his own documentary, Ocean's Deadliest, but weather had stalled filming. Irwin decided to take the opportunity to film some shallow water shots for a television program his daughter Bindi was hosting. According to his friend, John Stainton, he swam too close to one of the stingrays.

Steve and Bindi

The reason Steve Irwin is my hero is because he had a love for animals and saving their lives. He worked very hard for the environment. He was a wonderful family man including his wife and children in his work. Steve was also very close to his father and considered him his best friend. While doing this wonderful work and being such a wonderful family man, he also entertained many children and adults with his shows. He was very outgoing, funny, and brave.