Did Irwin 'The Crocodile Hunter' go too far with wild animals?

Question

I feel sorry that Irwin 'The Crocodile Hunter' died. (Why hunt crocodiles anyway?) But there is a part of me that gets angry whenever I see people provoking and stressing out animals in their natural habitats without seemingly any regards to how stressed/angry/frightened these animals must feel. These 'experts' claim to be animal lovers and doing the animal no harm. BUt why not just leave the animals alone unpestered in their natural habitats?

How do you feel about this issue?

Answer 1

There's a reason for everything. Irwin went into the animals habitats and even held/touched them. He was trying to teach us things about animals, and for science. Also to show kids how dangerous it is to be near a wild animal. Since we can't touch them, or maybe even go near them, he risks his own life to show us these amazing animals. It's like taking your pet to the vet. They get scared because they don't know what's going on. Don't you think that even in their own habitats, they can get scared? Plus, the crocodile hunter never harmed the animals (not that I know of). Irwin is an expert, therefore he's been around animals for a very long time (considering his age and how long his TV show was on).

I understand how you feel about this. I am infact the same way, but there's really nothing we can do about it. These "Experts" do it for science, mostly to help the animals, and preventing them from extincsion (sorry for my spelling). Of course the animal will get scared, but with the expects helping them, they'll be happy for a long time.

I hope this helped!

- Dani

Answer 2

do you leave the animal alone, unpestered? Maybe, but i bet you also forget that they exist or probably don't even know that they exist and it's people who leave them alone that cause the worst damage. This is why so many people don't care if they pollute or destroy the environment, they don't know that there are animals living in the world. Or they don't know where the animals live, so they don't give a ****. it's people like Irwin who remind us what amazing creatures we have in our world and that we need to respect their habitats. If the animals are scared of anything I think it's that they will have no where to go once we destroy all their homes.

Answer 3

I understand what you are saying.
Sometimes you could look at it like , what is he doing?!
I believe he knew what he was doing, he took care, adn yes sometimes got bit. You know,that happens, I have seen that with Jeff Corwin too, and he is another great one with teaching us about animals and the environment.

I think when he would get a snake, or whatever it was, was showing us the animal. He repected the animals, he cared for them.

WIth the crocs, he would catch them to help them or take them to the zoo or wherever.

THere are certain circumstances that animals are not being left in the wild. I have mixed feelings about zoo's. In ways I see them helpful to the animal and us about educationing, and saving them from some horrible death from hunters. Then in another way, I don't like to see them locked up.

Steve's crocs always had the nice living area, as his other animals.

I am still upset about his death.
May he rest in peace and God Bless his family

Answer 4

Steve Irwin did what he did with the animals for educational purposes. He wanted people to see animals first hand and learn a deep respect for them. Without his expertise, children and adults alike wouldn't have been able to see the animals that he exhibited. He will be sorely missed! RIP Steve

Answer 5

I'm getting really tired of this kind of sentiment in the media and in comments I hear.

Has anyone who's making fun of the man ever watched his shows? Have you ever done as much to help for the care and conservation of any animal as he has?

Yes, the man was a showman. Yes, he was famous. And yes, he did put himself into situation that I personally would avoid. But everything he said or did, crazy or not, was in the spirit of educating the rest of us about the beauty of nature and sacredness of animals beyond our human-centered, preconceived notions.

As far as "hunting".... You never saw the man kill a croc. Only try to preserve them and relocate them to a habitate that would not bring them into conflict with humans. (And always with the effort of avoiding "stressing" or hurting an animal.)

I say let the man rest in peace. Show some respect for him and his family. Honor his legacy.

Answer 6

I agree! We have too many so called experts runnning around doing things near and with animals they should not be doing, all in the name of education. As far as I am concerned, these people are highlighting themselves and trying to be celebrities, NOT helping animals!

Answer 7

There are some "experts" that need to get a clue and quit antagonizing animals. I believe he was not necessarily one of those types of people. From what I understand, he simply got too close to a stingray but had not intentionally startled or threatened it.

Answer 8

He died in his line of work. He came close to dying various times. I think it was just of matter of time before this happen. I mean he got bit by snakes many times, they don't show it of course, and had to be rushed to the closest hospital after treating him with an anti-venom. It was just his time to go.

Answer 9

Animals never defend themselves unless they feel threatened. He must have done something to spook the ray or he would still be here right now. God rest his soul.

Answer 10

nah, animals endure worse things in nature than irwin provoking them.