Stephen Robert Irwin

The Irwins with friend

Stephen Robert Irwin was born to Lyn and Bob Irwin in 1962 in Victoria. Bob Irwin had always been very keen on reptiles so in 1970 his family and himself moved to Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and started a small reptile park. it turned out to be a real family buissness and in 1991 was handed over to their son Steve after Bob had retired. Living in the zoo Steve grew up with all kinds of diffenrent animals and took part in their daily feeding and care. For Steves sixth birthday he got what he always had wanted; his very own Scrub Python( 3.6 meters). While most other kids where opening cans of pet food steve was out catching rodients and fish to feed the animals and his pet Python.

Bob taught Steve everything there was to know about reptiles even teaching the then nine-year-old how to jump in and catch crocodiles in the rivers of North Queensland at night. They are both proud to say that every crocodile in their Zoo was either caught by their bare hands or bred and raised in their Zoo.Steve followed in his father’s footsteps and volunteered for the Queensland Governments East Coast Crocodile Management program which saw him spending years living on his own in the mosquito infested creeks rivers and mangroves catching huge crocodiles singlehandedly.

In 1991 Steve got the chance to reuinite with a friend John Stainton, who just happened to be a TV producer. This was Steve's big break. Ccalledwho was filming an ad in the zoo this gave Steve the opportunity to show his true talent to the world, and this he did. Steve made his first documentary in 1992. It was called the 'Crocodile Hunter'. The huge success of this one program of many more over the next three years made Steve Irwin a family name. Ten 1 hour shows where made and put on screens all over the world. Steve has now filmed over 70 episodes of The Crocodile Hunter 53 episodes of Croc Files 43 episodes of Croc Diaries.

in June 1992 Steve married Terri Raines from the United States of America . They had met a few months earlier when Terri visited the Zoo whilst on holidays in Australia. It was love at first sight as both Steve and Terri shared a mutual love of the reptile world. They we blessed with two children, Bindi and Bob. At this point in time with the success of both Steve's professional and personal life, the family were on top of the world

On september 4th 2006 Steve Irwin died whilst filming a documentary called 'Oceans Deadliest'. A stingray barb pierced Steve's heart. Steve removed the barb whilst in the water and this caused him to bleed to death. The owner of the boat has said that this was a very unlucky and tragic accident. If Steve had been pierced by the barb anywhere else on his body he would most likely have lived. The death of Steve Irwin took Australians by complete shock and surprise. He is truly an Australian hero and will be well remembered for all his work to help animals.