Crikey! It’s Been A Year!
Posted by: Loren Coleman on September 4th, 2007
“I have no fear of losing my life. If I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it.” – Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin, the worldwide phenom, the popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” was killed a year ago, on September 4, 2006, by a stingray, while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44. Crikey, I miss his sense of humor on new nature shows!
Irwin’s death hit a lot of people deeply.
The man who had such a large heart for animals, kids, and people in general was killed by a stingray’s barb that went into his chest and put a hole into his heart, said the reports at the time.
It is well-established now, a year later, that Irwin was interested in cryptozoology. On August 6, 2002, Irwin was on the radio talk show, “Coast to Coast AM with George Noory,” and Noory and Irwin talked about the Yowie/Bigfoot. If he lived, and after the release of the Paul Cropper/Tony Healy book on Yowies, I wonder if he would have mounted an expedition, for his program. Sorry to never know.
As recently posted here, Steve Irwin had gone on at least one documentary television-driven search for Thylacines. He would tell people that there are some areas so remote that it is difficult to explore them fully and that if there is a small population of Thylacine they could easily go undiscovered. From the Animal Planet running of that recent program, we know Irwin concentrated on Tasmania, even though Western Australia may have the more favorable sightings, of late. (For more about the Thylacine/Tasmanian Tiger, see “70 Years: Thylacines Still Rule!”.)
Good-bye again, mate.
Our thoughts were with his kids, wife, family, and friends a year ago. They continue to be. Happy to see that they are carrying on with their important work.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Very nice rememberance post! He is missed by many. Rest In Peace Steve!
Very nice, Loren. Thanks for the column. Steve is missed by many around the world, he was a fine man.
Irwin was, as his critics said, a showman, but science and conservation need showmen. While Irwin’s enthusiasm perhaps clouded his judgments at times, there is no denying his impact for good. He took a global audience through countless lessons about wildlife and the environment, and he made it all fun. He demonstrated a love for creatures from snakes to spiders to (of course) crocodiles that helped him get across to everyone how important these “vermin” or “killers” are in their ecosystems.
We miss you, Steve.
Still watch Steve on Animal Planet. Just can’t get enough of that guy. He was great. To be able to see and do 1/10th of what he did would be a blessing. He will never be forgotten.
His legacy will carry on through his people and his children for many many years to come. RIP, Steve, RIP.
If only we all had the same patience, enthusiasm, intelligence, and rendering heart towards the animal world as Steve tirelessly displayed, the world would be a far, far better place.
I am a local emcee for the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon and his death last year really messed me up and I regret not mentioning it on air. R I P mate
With Steve Irwin’s up close and personal hands on approach to wildlife conservation a foray into cryptid investigating would have been truly interesting and entertaining. He once said “Yeah, I’m a thrill seeker, but crikey, education’s the most important thing.” He always emphasized that on every program. He was the genuine article. Thanks for the remembrance Loren.
nice read