Extreme Justin

By Extreme Justin at http://extremejustin.com/

Last night I came home and checked my e-mail. I then did something I almost never do. I checked the BBC News Latest News from my Firefox web browser. That was when I saw the most unexpected thing. The title was ” Crocodile Hunter” Irwin dies at 44. I thought “this can’t be, I must have read this wrong.” When I opened the article there was a picture of Steve Irwin. He always knew that one day he would have to retire because he could no longer match the speed of the crocs. I always thought that was how it would go down. I never thought in a million years he would meet his end to a sea creature that I myself have touched in an aquarium.

Steve will always be remembered for his excitable, crazy way of exploring wildlife. We should remember him for more that just that. He broke the barriers of traditional thought on wildlife documentaries and begin interactively exploring the wildlife in front of the cameras instead of just behind them. He helped break the barriers that allowed a whole new generation of interactive documentaries to come to fruition at the turn of the new millinium. Besides Steve, Jeff Corwin is probably the best known of these, and Corwin will probably lead the way now. Irwin was instrumental in the launch of Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet network.

Perhaps the most important thing that Steve Irwin should be remembered for is his environmental activism. He did not acomplish this through protests but though teaching and setting an example. Irwin made it “cool” to like animals. Irwin always made sure that everyone knew he cared about people too. He left behind a family that he loved very dearly. He even changed to a show for a while that concentrated more on the Australia Zoo so that he could be near to his family. People were seen through the same loving eyes that he researved for animals. When he went into Eastern Timor it was hard for him to take the devistation to both people and wildlife. He pleaded with people to stop supporting snake charming because of the harm being done to snakes. He even worked with the Army Rangers in Ft. Eglin (not far from my hometown of Penascola, Florida) to help preserve the rattlesnake population there.

In this instant world in which we live there have already been hundreds if not thousands of posts to the Croc. Hunter message board at Discovery Channel. From this post it may seem that I knew Steve personally. I do not. That is just how Steve made us feel; like one of the family. When Discovery Channel/Animal Planet does the tribute one day soon, I will be watching.

Just over a month ago (at the end of June), Steve Irwin’s tortoise Harriet died. At one time this tortoise was believed to have been one Darwin had seen. While that may not be the case, she was seen by the Irwins as part of the family. It was reported that Harriet, then the worlds oldest living tortoise died at the age of 176 from heart failure. Perhaps if she had lived just 39 days more she would have died of a broken heart.

My condolences go out to the Irwins. It is a tough thing to lose a pet that was born before your grandparents were. Now they have to deal with the loss of a husband and of a father.