TOPIC: Steve Irwin Will Be Remembered...

Steve Irwin: "I'm a conservationist through and through. ... That's why I was put on this planet, for the benefit of wildlife and wilderness areas. That's what I'm into. That's what makes me pumped, mate. That's what myself and Terry and our families have been all about." (on the Andrew Denton Show)

Over the past 24 hours, I have read quite a few eulogies to Steve Irwin. The Crocodile Hunter, Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel -- were all partially built on the efforts of Steven Irwin. Steve left behind more than 200 million viewers in 35 countries -- many adoring fans; along with a handful of critics. There are a few articles and memorialized interviews worth noting. Steven left huge shoes to fill in the world of wildlife conservation. Let's hope Terri Irwin, Wes Mannion, John Stainton and the rest of the team at Australia Zoo will continue the legacy that Robert, Lyn and Steve Irwin began more than two decades ago. Here are a few articles of note:

Radar.blog
Statesboro Herald (AP)
RedTailBoa.net
FoxNews.com
CNN.com (view related links, too)
MS-NBC.com

The only negative press (of note) was Steve Johnson in the Chicago Tribune. Thankfully, the public is correcting Johnson's perspective and inappropriate blog post via the Tribune blog's Comments section. Here is the reply I sent:

"Steve [Johnson],
In your own words to Mike (above), 'Obviously, Irwin, though (sic) television's power, had crossed the line in people's lives to being more than just a remote, 'famous' person.'
You are SO correct. Steve Irwin almost single handedly made unloved and ugly reptiles lovable and enjoyable to countless thousands. He was the real deal LONG before cameras rolled. He spent years camping along the rivers of Australia, rescuing crocodiles for little or no payment -- and NO notoriety. He built a small "petting" zoo into THE Australia Zoo. Yes, he was much more than a 'remote famous person'.
As for his so-called taunting and harrassment, you and the others are wrong and obviously uneducated about animal behavior. Steve took the time to settle wild animals that felt threatened by his presence, so that he could show us their beauty, their personality and their worth in this world.
As for his conservation efforts, did you know that Steve Irwin spent much of his money buying land for what -- wildlife conservation. We're not talking about plush land for development. We're talking swamps and desert and land that was never meant for human habitation. Steve and his team also worked to save the lives of many animals, including specific species NOT native to Australia.
Folks need to learn what they are talking about before they start typing. You, Steve Johnson, should be ashamed of bringing up an old piece that by mere coincidence has some truth -- post-mortem."

Photo courtsey of Milky2005

TOPIC: 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin Dead
Steve Irwin, known as the "Crocodile Hunter," has died after being stung by a stingray in a marine accident off Australia's north coast. Media reports say Irwin was snorkeling at Batt Reef, a part of the Great Barrier Reef about 9 miles from the town of Port Douglas, when the incident happened on Monday morning.
Irwin, 44, was killed by a stingray barb that pierced his chest, according to Cairns police sources. Irwin was in the area to film pieces for a show called "Ocean's Deadliest" with Phillippe Cousteau, grandson of Jacques, Irwin's producer and friend John Stainton told CNN's "American Morning." Weather had prevented the crew from doing work for that program, said Stainton, so Irwin decided to do some softer features for a new children's TV show he was doing with his daughter, Bindi. "He came over the top of a stingray that was buried in the sand, and the barb came up and hit him in the chest," said Stainton. Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality Monday morning off Port Douglas, according to Australian media.

Full article: KLTV7

"He has left a legacy," Stainton told CNN. "That people do love some of the unloved animals like crocodiles and reptiles that people wanted to kill. He's actually put a position in their hearts for them. I want that to continue. ... I want people to really go out there and remember Steve Irwin for what he really was, which was a great conservationist, saving wildlife and actually promoting wildlife that people didn't love."

Charlie's Notes: My daughters cried and cried when my wife and I told them about Steve Irwin's death this morning. As a father and husband, my heart goes out to the Irwin family. Terri, Bindi and little Robert are feeling a million times the loss we all feel.
My girls both said that Steve Irwin is one of the reasons they love animals so much. Steve helped ALL of my family learn to find the beauty in many animals, especially reptiles. May he rest in peace and may God's comfort surround his family in this time of mourning.
Here is an excellent tribute to Steve Irwin (hosted on YouTube).