Steve Irwin (Crocodile Hunter) is Dead [merged]

[doctorsun]

Just how do you think we produce antivenom? I guess you would prefer the scientists ask the snakes to slither over on their own and deposit all their available venom into the cup?

PETA has been proven time and time again to be little more than a pack of media whores who have chosen "animal rights" as their preferred method of getting attention. It may have started out wanting to do the right thing for animals who truly needed their help, but the lunatics long ago took over in that organization.

I'm sure according to them, people deserve to get bitten by snakes.

I don't know of anyone who takes PETA seriously. They've lost all credibility.

 

[Snickers52]

It is dangerous...because it stabbed him with it's prehensile tail...really doesn't make it a freak accident.

Stingrays do not have prehensile tails.

 

[aussiedream]

I don't mean to be insensitive, but Irwin's lack of awe for wild animals clearly put himself and others (his own baby particularly) at serious risk. There could have very well been an accident at that time that he held held his one-month old baby while feeding the crocodile. But he got lucky that time, and I didn't really believe that it was because he was in total control of the animal. It was just simply pure luck. How can one claim that he is in total control of a situation involving wild animals when in the first place no one knows exactly how these wild animals behave? Unfortunately, he wasn't lucky this time, and sadly had to leave a family with two very young children who will never see their father again.

Irwin's death should be a lesson to those who think that they can meddle with mother nature. Death by being stung by stingrays is very rare, and for Irwin to die this way was a very unfortunate accident.

It was just a matter of time. Irwin's work involves danger that could lead to serious or even fatal injuries. Tragic? Probably not at all. There's no question in my mind that Irwin would have preferred to die this way than being hit by a car. He died doing what he loved best. But death is death, and there are no second chances.

RIP Irwin.

 

[ryankeith]

I don't mean to be insensitive, but Irwin's lack of awe for wild animals clearly put himself and others (his own baby particularly) at serious risk. There could have very well been an accident at that time that he held held his one-month old baby while feeding the crocodile. But he got lucky that time, and I didn't really believe that it was because he was in total control of the animal. It was just simply pure luck. How can one claim that he is in total control of a situation involving wild animals when in the first place no one knows exactly how these wild animals behave? Unfortunately, he wasn't lucky this time, and sadly had to leave a family with two very young children who will never see their father again.

Irwin's death should be a lesson to those who think that they can meddle with mother nature. Death by being stung by stingrays is very rare, and for Irwin to die this way was a very unfortunate accident.

It was just a matter of time. Irwin's work involves danger that could lead to serious or even fatal injuries. Tragic? Probably not at all. There's no question in my mind that Irwin would have preferred to die this way than being hit by a car. He died doing what he loved best. But death is death, and there are no second chances.

RIP Irwin.

I hate to tell you, but I think he was very much in awe of the animal kingdom, which inspired him to move on in his work, to protect certain animals from being needlessly killed, yet keep us informed and educated at the same time. It is almost like saying those who put themsleves at risk to protect humans from danger or to help humans from being hurt or killed (for example firefighters, police officers, soldiers) had it coming and deserve what they got.

 

[Ninja108]

Actually, from what I've been able to find out recently from the australian newspaper he may have accidently stepped on it, which is how most people get stung. Still sadly ironic the one time he actually didn't put himself in danger he got killed.

 

[lazycrockett]

Re: Steve Irwin

nothing more crass than talking bout a man who hasnt been dead more than 2 days, and talk bout his ass!!

youre sad

 

[blackbeltninja]

I HAVE read that they break into labs where animals have been fed and nourished in safety for study, not for cruel-test-performances (although i DO acknowledge that animals are often treated cruelly in the hands of science) and set free into the wild where they have ZERO survival chances, having become accustomed to a safe life.

I think you'll find that science treats animals much less cruelly now than it did years ago. Our labs here at the University I am studying at have to conform to certain standards, and we are audited twice a year to ensure that everything is up to scratch. And here in .za, this is a 3rd world lab I am referring to.

Having said that, people need to realise that things need to be tested properly on the best testing systems available to us beofer being unleashed on the public. Had certain key tests been performed, there would most likely have been no thalidomide babies born. You can punch the term into google or google images if you want to see what I mean. The only other option is no testing done in animals, but with an agreement for no lawsuits if your head falls off from using your new shampoo...

Yes, this is a hijack of sorts, but it seems the appropriate place for the comments given some aspects of the discussion above. Incidentally, I think PETA are idiots, and I have a love-hate thing for Greenpeace.

-d-

 

[ozguy]

Re: Irwin Tribute

That was great ... thanks for sharing.
There have been many moving tributes to Steve already on the telly here and I've just about cried myself out over all of them. I still can't believe he's gone.

 

[Justusboys88]

Re: Irwin Tribute

I just came over here to see if it was posted yet.. just heard...

aww so sad..

 

[Alan]

Re: Irwin Tribute

Just had to say RIP Steve Irwin.
He was a unique character. I'm really sad he's gone.

 

[tx_doc]

Re: Irwin Tribute

I really enjoyed Steve Irwin. He was informative and entertaining. I'm sorry for his wife and children's loss. 44 is such a young age to go.

 

[NedNickerson]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060905/people_nm/australia_irwin_dc_12

(excerpt)

Police have been handed footage taken as Irwin, 44, filmed what was to be his last documentary. It shows him swimming above a stingray when it lashed out and speared him in the heart with its barbed tail, manager John Stainton told reporters.

"He pulled it out and the next minute he's gone," he said.

"The cameraman had to shut down. It's a very hard thing to watch because you're actually witnessing somebody die ... it's terrible," Stainton said.

Police said it appeared Irwin was just watching the ray.

Stingrays are normally placid and only attack in self-defense. But Irwin's cameraman was filming in front of it and it probably became frightened and lashed out.

Stainton said the cameraman only became aware of the attack when he noticed Irwin bleeding

"There is no evidence that Mr Irwin was intimidating or threatening the stingray," Queensland police spokesman Mike Keating told reporters.

Marine experts say stingrays can deliver horrific, agonizing injuries from the toxin-laden barbs, which can measure up to 20 cm (8 in) in length and cause injuries like a knife or bayonet.

"It's not the going in that causes the damage, it's the coming out where those deep serrations kind of pull on the flesh, and you end up with a very jagged tear which is quite a pronounced injury," said Dr Bryan Fry, deputy director of the Australian Venom Research Unit.