Steve Irwin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Irwin
Irwin at Australia Zoo in 2005
Born	(1962-02-22)22 February 1962 Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia
Died	4 September 2006(2006-09-04) (aged 44) Batt Reef, Queensland, Australia
Cause of death	Stingray injury to the heart
Resting place	Australia Zoo, Beerwah, Queensland
Occupation	Naturalist zoologist conservationist television personality herpetologist
Years active	1991–2006
Spouse(s)	Terri Raines ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	Bindi Robert
Parent(s)	Bob Irwin Lyn Hakainsson
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Stephen Robert Irwin (born February 22, 1962 – died September 4, 2006) was an Australian expert on animals. Many people knew him as "The Crocodile Hunter." He was a zookeeper, a person who works to protect nature, and a TV star. He taught people about wildlife and the environment.

Steve grew up learning about crocodiles and other reptiles from his father, Bob. He became famous in the late 1990s because of his TV show, The Crocodile Hunter. He hosted this show with his wife, Terri. The show was seen all over the world.

Steve and Terri also hosted other shows like Croc Files and The Crocodile Hunter Diaries. They owned and ran Australia Zoo, which Steve's parents first started. They had two children, Bindi and Robert.

In 2006, Steve died from an injury caused by a stingray. This happened while he was filming a documentary underwater in the Great Barrier Reef. His death was very sad news around the world. Many places, animals, and even a ship have been named after him. The Irwin family still runs Australia Zoo today.

Early Life

Stephen Robert Irwin was born on February 22, 1962, in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia. His parents were Lynette Hakainsson and Bob Irwin. When he was a child in 1970, his family moved to Queensland.

Steve's father, Bob, was an expert on wildlife, especially reptiles. His mother, Lyn, helped injured animals get better. In Queensland, Steve's parents opened a small park called the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park. Steve grew up there, surrounded by crocodiles and other reptiles.

Steve helped out at the park every day. He fed the animals and helped take care of them. For his sixth birthday, he received a 12-foot-long scrub python as a gift. He started handling crocodiles when he was nine years old, after his father taught him about them. At the same age, he wrestled his first crocodile, also with his father watching.

He also volunteered for a program that managed crocodiles. He caught over 100 crocodiles. Some were moved to new places, and others stayed at his family's park. In 1991, Steve took over running the park. In 1998, he changed its name to Australia Zoo.

Career

The Crocodile Hunter and Other Shows

Irwin and Terri with Wes Mannion, another cast member of The Crocodile Hunter.

Steve and his wife, Terri, spent their honeymoon catching crocodiles. Film of their honeymoon became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. The show first aired in Australia in 1996. It came to North America the next year.

The Crocodile Hunter became very popular. It was shown in over 130 countries and reached 500 million people. Steve was known for his energetic style, his strong Australian accent, his khaki shorts, and his famous saying, 'Crikey!'

After The Crocodile Hunter, Steve starred in other shows for Animal Planet. These included Croc Files, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and New Breed Vets. Animal Planet also had a special week called Croc Week every June. Steve also announced that his daughter, Bindi, would have her own show. This show, Bindi the Jungle Girl, started after his death.

Other TV and Film Work

Irwin in 2000

In 1998, Steve worked on a show called The Ten Deadliest Snakes in the World. He also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno many times.

Under Steve's leadership, Australia Zoo grew. It included the zoo itself, the TV shows, and the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation. This foundation was later renamed Wildlife Warriors. The zoo also added new areas like the Animal Planet Crocoseum.

In 2001, Steve had a small role in the movie Dr. Dolittle 2. His only main movie role was in The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course in 2002. In this movie, Steve played himself. He thought some CIA agents were poachers. He tried to stop them from catching a crocodile. He didn't know the crocodile had a tracking device inside it. The movie won an award for Best Family Feature Film.

In 2002, Steve and his family were in Wiggly Safari, a video by The Wiggles. It was filmed at Australia Zoo. Steve also promoted The Ghan, a passenger train in Australia, in 2003. A train engine was even named Steve Irwin.

Protecting Animals and Nature

Irwin feeding a crocodile at Australia Zoo in 2005

Steve Irwin was very passionate about protecting nature. He wanted to share his excitement about the natural world. He believed this would make people care about it too. He was worried about endangered animals and the loss of their homes due to land clearing.

Steve thought protecting animals was the most important part of his job. He said, 'I consider myself a wildlife warrior. My mission is to save the world's endangered species'. He bought large areas of land in Australia and other countries. He called these lands 'like national parks'. He wanted people to know that everyone can help make a difference.

Steve started the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation. It later became a charity called 'Wildlife Warriors Worldwide'. He also helped start International Crocodile Rescue. He also created the Lyn Irwin Memorial Fund, named after his mother.

Steve encouraged people to be careful tourists. He told them not to buy things that came from illegal poaching. These included items like turtle shells or shark-fin soup.

Sir David Attenborough was a big inspiration for Steve. After Steve's death, his wife Terri said that David Attenborough directly inspired Steve. David Attenborough also praised Steve. He said Steve taught many people how wonderful and exciting the natural world was.

Sporting Activities

Steve Irwin loved mixed martial arts and trained in a fighting style called Gaidojutsu.

Like many Australians, he was a big fan of cricket. During a trip to Sri Lanka, he played cricket with children. He said, 'I love cricket'.

Steve was also a fan of Australian Rules Football. He supported the Essendon Bombers. He even took part in a football event in Los Angeles.

He also loved rugby league. As a teenager, he played for the Caloundra Sharks. As an adult, he was a big fan of the Brisbane Broncos. He even tackled a large player named Shane Webcke during a training session. Steve also supported rugby union and the national team, the Wallabies. He once wore a Wallaby jersey at the zoo.

Steve was also a skilled surfer.

Helping in Mexico

In November 2003, Steve was filming a documentary in Mexico. He heard on his boat's radio that two scuba divers were missing. Steve and his whole crew stopped filming to help search.

His team's divers joined the rescue divers. Steve used his boat to look for the divers around the island. He also used his satellite system to call for a rescue plane. On the second day, kayakers found one diver, Scott Jones, on a rock ledge. Steve and a crew member helped him onto Steve's boat. The other diver, Katie Vrooman, was found dead later that day.

Death

Steve Irwin died on September 4, 2006. He was pierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray barb. This happened while he was filming a documentary called Ocean's Deadliest at Batt Reef in Queensland. The stingray's barb went into his chest, causing a very serious injury.

Steve's death is believed to be the only time a stingray attack causing death was filmed. His death shocked and saddened people all over the world.

A private funeral was held on September 9, 2006. Steve was buried at Australia Zoo that same day. A public memorial service was held at Australia Zoo's Crocoseum on September 30, 2006. This service was shown live on TV and was watched by over 300 million people.

Flowers left in Irwin's memory the day after his death

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

In 1991, Steve met Terri Raines. She was an American naturalist visiting wildlife places in Australia. She decided to visit Steve's zoo. They both said it was love at first sight. Terri thought Steve was like an "environmental Tarzan."

They got engaged four months later. They were married in Eugene, Oregon, on June 4, 1992. They had two children: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born July 24, 1998), and a son, Robert Clarence Irwin (born December 1, 2003). Bindi Sue was named after two of Steve's favorite animals: Bindi, a saltwater crocodile, and Sui, a dog. Robert was named after Steve's father, Bob, and Terri's father, Clarence.

Steve once said his daughter Bindi was "the reason [he] was put on the Earth." Terri said that the only thing that could keep Steve away from animals was the people he loved even more. The Irwins did not wear wedding rings. They believed that wearing jewelry could be dangerous for them or the animals they worked with. Steve often said he hoped to be remembered as a good father.

Legacy

After His Death

Steve Irwin provided his voice for the animated movie Happy Feet in 2006. He played an elephant seal named Trev. The movie was dedicated to Steve because he died while it was being made.

In 2007, a special episode of The Crocodile Hunter was made to honor him. It was called Crikey! What an Adventure: An Intimate Look at the Life of Steve Irwin. Later that year, Bindi released a documentary called My Daddy, the Crocodile Hunter. Steve also appears in episodes of Bindi the Jungle Girl and Crikey! It's the Irwins using old video footage.

Steve Irwin Day

Steve Irwin Day is celebrated every year on November 15. It honors Steve's life and his work. This date was chosen because it is the birthday of one of Steve's favorite animals, a tortoise from the Galápagos Islands. On this day, people raise money for Wildlife Warriors to continue Steve's conservation work. Employees at Australia Zoo wear khaki uniforms to remember Steve.

Honours

Steve Irwin Memorial, Mooloolaba, Queensland

In 1997, Steve found a new type of turtle while fishing with his father. He was given the honor of naming it. He named it Irwin's turtle (Elseya irwini) after his family. In 2009, a new type of land snail, Crikey steveirwini, was also named after him.

The Australian government gave Steve the Centenary Medal in 2001. This was for his work in protecting nature and helping Australian tourism. In 2004, he was named Tourism Export of the Year. He was also nominated for Australian of the Year.

After his death, Steve was given an honorary professorship at the University of Queensland. In 2007, he was added to the Logie Hall of Fame, which honors Australian TV stars.

In May 2007, the government of Rwanda named a baby gorilla after Steve. This was to honor his work in protecting wildlife. The environmental group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society renamed their ship MV Robert Hunter to MY Steve Irwin after his death. Terri Irwin supported this idea. She said, 'If Steve were alive, he'd be aboard with them!'

In 2017, it was announced that Steve would get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star was revealed on April 26, 2018. On February 22, 2019, which would have been Steve's 57th birthday, Google made a special Google Doodle to remember him.

In Australia

After his death, Steve Irwin became a symbol of Australia for many people. The government of Queensland uses his image to promote tourism. Australia Zoo is seen as one of the state's most famous tourist places. His son, Robert, became a spokesperson for Queensland tourism in 2020.

Filmography

Film

Television

Images for kids

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  A poster from Irwin's Quarantine Matters! campaign

See also

In Spanish: Steve Irwin para niños