Steve Irwin Research Paper

“Crikey! I haven’t seen an animal I haven’t wanted to kiss!” (“Who is Steve Irwin”, 2007, p.1). Although this may be a strange quote by anyone’s standards, it was very much the norm for those who knew and loved Steve Irwin. Steve Irwin was a passionate, energetic, and loving wildlife conservationist. He was best known for his work on the television series, “The Crocodile Hunter” where he gained international recognition (“Irwin, Steve Robert”, 2014). Where he would often get right in front of the camera with some of the world’s deadliest animals. Steve would have continued to make an enormous impact in his field had it not been cut too soon by a tragic accident. As young boy, he grew up around some of the world’s most feared and fierce

Steve Irwin was born to Bob and Lyn Irwin on February 22, 1962. He was born in a town called Essendon, located on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. Steve’s parents both loved wildlife; his mother Lyn had made the Irwin home somewhat of a shelter for wildlife. Steve learned early on how to care and treat sick animals from his mother. His father, Bob, studied reptiles, collected snakes, and worked with crocodiles. Steve grew up loving, caring for, and rescuing animals from a very young age. Even as a young boy he seemed to be following in his parent’s footsteps. In 1970, at the young age of eight, his parents purchased four acres of land in Queensland. On the newly purchased land his parents opened up Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, and today the park is known as the Australia Zoo. Since the inception of the park, Steve was involved in the day-to-day operations of the park. In his younger years he would follow his dads’

Although Steve never sought a higher education after high school that never stopped him from learning anything and everything he could about Australia’s wildlife. In 1991 he met a young women from America named Terri, who was also a conservationist of wildlife and a veterinary nurse back in Oregon. After discovering that they had so much in common and both having a passionate love for wildlife they were soon married. Steve and Terri married June 4th, 1992 (“Who is Steve Irwin”, 2007). Their honeymoon was spent out in the brush rescuing crocodiles in Queensland, the footage from their honeymoon would become the first episode of the soon to be hit show, “The Crocodile Hunter”. Both Steve and Terri Irwin would become a household name in the early 1990’s due to his hit television show, “The Crocodile Hunter”. The show first aired on Animal Planet in 1996 and a year later would air in the United States. This is where Steve shined; his extremely energetic nature and fearlessness would entice millions to watch his show. Steve and Terri would go on to make many more popular shows that would showcase wildlife and their natural habitats. With his original show he reached millions with his message of wildlife conservation and it’s importance. Along with his many television shows he continued to work at his parent’s park which was