Crikey! That was always Steve Irwin's famous catchphrase, most of you may know him as "The Crocodile Hunter". He was such a daredevil, he even wrestled a 12-foot crocodile on camera. But, today we all mourn his passing away. Steve Irwin died on September 4th, 2006 after a stingray's barb pierced his heart, while filming in Queensland.

The stingray is not usually considered a killer, but Irwin was the third person in Australia to die this way. Witnesses say he apparently died because of cardiac arrest after the stingray attack.

Irwin was a passionate conservationist and icon to many. In 2001, he appeared in a role in the Eddie Murphy film Dr Dolittle 2. This led to a feature film, The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, including The Crocodile Hunter Diaries. Within a few years, he was one of the most famous faces on US Television.

Irwin was one of those guys that would walk out of a Chinese restaurant if there was shark fin soup on the menu. Irwin just hated the idea that endangered species are being eating just for a tasty appetizer.

Dr. Leo Smith, an expert on venomous fishes in the department of ichthyology at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, said that although Mr. Irwin had no scientific degree and some scientists criticized his theatrics and hyperbole, "he could be considered a biologist rather than just a television personality."

"He was knowledgeable and seemed to care passionately about wildlife," Dr. Smith said. "He took a very outgoing approach that made people less fearful of sharks and other mean things out there." Mr. Irwin's death, he said, "is depressing because the last thing you want is for the guy who says things are safe to be killed."

Irwin was widely criticized in 2004 for feeding a snapping crocodile inside a pen while holding his infant son, Bob, in one arm. Though some likened the action to child abuse, he said he had been in firm control of both the child and the crocodile. He was never charged with endangering his son's welfare.

I included some pictures along with the article and maybe you can do some more research about the subject. The Crocodile Hunter was one special person and he gave away millions - yeah millions - to parks, so that they could help animals.

You know all the time I think about this -- We are animals (mammals) and so are other animals, right? Now, if animals are getting endangered, I have always wondered what it would be like. Well, that's all I really want to say, but one last time . . .

Croc's Rule!

x3 BecauseSo
R.I.P. Crocodile Hunter