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  Straits Times Forum 26 Sep 06
Understand and respect those around us - man or animal
 Letter from Shalini Pehrinparaj

Straits Times Forum 26 Sep 06
Denying links with animals allows us to treat them like mere objects
Lettter from George Jacobs PhD President, Vegetarian Society (Singapore)

Today Online 13 Sep 06
Irwin fans seek revenge, killing up to 10 stingrays

Yahoo News 12 Sep 06
Don't hurt rays after Irwin death, officials say

Today Online 9 Sep 06
Think of the animals
Honour Steve Irwin the conservationist but not the provocative methods
Letter from Joan D'Arcy

Yahoo News 4 Sep 06
"Crocodile Hunter" Irwin dies
By Paul Tait

BBC 4 Sep 06
'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin killed

Australian environmentalist and television personality Steve Irwin has died during a diving accident.

Mr Irwin, 44, was killed by a stingray barb to the chest while he was filming an underwater documentary in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef. Paramedics from the nearby city of Cairns rushed to treat him at the scene but were unable to save him.

Mr Irwin was known for his television show The Crocodile Hunter and his work with native Australian wildlife. Police in Queensland confirmed the naturalist's death and said his family had been notified. Mr Irwin was married with two young children.

"It is believed that Mr Irwin collapsed after being stung by a stingray at Batt Reef off Port Douglas at about 11:00 am (0100 GMT)," a police statement quoted by AFP news agency said. "His crew called for medical treatment and the Queensland medical helicopter responded, however Mr Irwin had died."

Documentaries

Mr Irwin had built up what was a small reptile park in Queensland into what is now Australia Zoo, a major centre for Australian wildlife.

He was famous for handling dangerous creatures such as crocodiles, snakes and spiders, and his documentaries on his work with crocodiles drew a worldwide audience.

But he also courted controversy with a series of stunts. He sparked outrage across Australia after cradling his one-month-old son a metre away from the reptile during a show at Australia Zoo.

A probe was also launched to investigate whether Mr Irwin and his team interacted too closely with penguins and whales while filming in the Antarctic, but no action was taken.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer praised Mr Irwin for his work to promote Australia. "The minister knew him, was fond of him and was very, very appreciative of all the work he'd done to promote Australia overseas," Mr Downer's spokesman said.

Yahoo News 4 Sep 06
"Crocodile Hunter" Irwin dies
By Paul Tait

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Steve Irwin, the quirky Australian naturalist who won worldwide acclaim, was killed by a stingray barb through the chest on Monday while diving off Australia's northeast coast, emergency officials and witnesses said.

"Steve was hit by a stingray in the chest," said local diving operator Steve Edmondson, whose Poseidon boats were out on the Great Barrier Reef when the accident occurred. "He probably died from a cardiac arrest from the injury," he said. Police and ambulance officials later confirmed Irwin had died and said his family had been advised.

Irwin, 44, was killed while filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas. Irwin had been diving off his boat "Croc One" near Batt Reef northeast of Port Douglas.

A helicopter had taken paramedics to nearby Low Isles where Irwin was taken for medical treatment but he was dead before they arrived, police said.

Irwin won a global following for his dare-devil antics but also triggered outrage in 2004 by holding his then one-month-old baby while feeding a snapping crocodile at his Australian zoo.

He made almost 50 of his "Crocodile Hunter" documentaries which appeared on cable TV channel Animal Planet and won a worldwide audience. The series ended after he was criticized for the incident with his young son and for disturbing whales, seals and penguins while filming in Antarctica.

Khaki-clad Irwin became famous for his seemingly death-defying methods with wild animals, including crocodiles and snakes.

He made a cameo appearance alongside Eddie Murphy in the 2001 Hollywood film Dr Dolittle 2 and appeared on U.S. television shows such as "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and on children's television alongside The Wiggles.

Irwin was married with two children, Bindi Sue and Bob Clarence. His American-born wife Terri was his business partner and frequent on-screen collaborator.

(Additional reporting by Michael Perry in SYDNEY)

Today Online 9 Sep 06
Think of the animals
Honour Steve Irwin the conservationist but not the provocative methods
Letter from Joan D'Arcy

Television shows, newspapers, zoos and photographs are unfortunately the only way most of the world's population will ever get to see and appreciate our fabulous animal kingdom.

Therefore, people like Steve Irwin, Jeff Corbin and others are a necessity.

I am deeply sorry that the world has lost a vocal supporter of animal conservation, one who has brought many issues into people's homes and to their attention, and I extend my deepest sympathy to his family.

Unfortunately I do not agree with the methods used, which have become more extreme as networks battle to get the best ratings for their shows.

Animals are magnificent creations, proud, beautiful and deserving of respect. Man considers himself the superior being but animals do not kill or attack except for food, to protect their families or as a result of an attack or threat.

To force an animal to display these behaviours in front of a camera to thrill those at home is criminal, disrespectful and demeaning to these creatures.

If the roles were reversed and the animal was in charge, how would we feel if, for example, an animal deliberately tried to separate a human mother and her baby just to see the mother's reaction as she desperately tries to do what is second nature to her?

Germaine Greer said the animal world got its revenge on Steve Irwin and she has been lambasted by a politician in Australia.

I would not entirely agree with her, but I do agree that many of these so-called naturalists and conservationist push the envelope too far.

As humans, we are the custodians of the animal kingdom and must use our "superior" intelligence to conserve the animal kingdom for our children and grandchildren with the respect and dignity they deserve.

As an animal lover and amateur conservationist, I applaud what Steve Irwin did for conservation, and the world needs more champions like him.

But please, maintain a sense of decorum and the animals' dignity.

Today Online 13 Sep 06
Irwin fans seek revenge, killing up to 10 stingrays

SYDNEY — Fans trying to avenge the death of popular television wildlife star Steve Irwin may have killed as many as 10 stingrays and cut off their deadly tails, a conservationist said yesterday.

Mr Irwin, 44, star of the popular Crocodile Hunter programme on the Discovery Channel, was killed last week when stabbed in the chest by a stingray tail barb while filming off the Great Barrier Reef.

Since his death, the authorities say as many as 10 stingrays have been found dead on the beaches of northeastern Queensland state, where Mr Irwin lived and ran his Australia Zoo, the AAP news agency reported.

Mr Michael Hornby, executive director of the Wildlife Warrior fund and a friend of Mr Irwin's, said the killings could be in retaliation for his death but if so the behaviour flew in the face of everything Mr Irwin believed in.

"We will not accept and not stand for anyone who's taken a form of retribution. That's the last thing Steve would want," he said. "Stingrays play an important role for the environment. I hope everyone understands we have to protect wildlife now more than ever."

Government fisheries manager of animal welfare Rick Symons said staff were investigating and offenders could be prosecuted if evidence of cruelty was found.

A public memorial service for Irwin will be held next week following a private funeral at his zoo last weekend. — AFP

Yahoo News 12 Sep 06
Don't hurt rays after Irwin death, officials say

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian authorities have urged fans of Steve Irwin not to attack stingrays after several rays were found dead since the TV naturalist was killed in a rare fatal attack by one of the normally placid animals.

Irwin, whose "Crocodile Hunter" documentaries were watched by more than 200 million people, was killed eight days ago when the serrated barb from a stingray's tail pierced his heart.

Queensland state officials said up to 10 of the animals have since been found dead in coastal waters. Two were found dead with their tails hacked off Tuesday at Deception Bay, north of the Queensland capital Brisbane. Up to six rays had also been found dead recently further north at Hervey Bay said Wayne Sumpton, a senior biologist in Queensland's Fisheries Department.

"We do not know if these incidents are motivated by Steve Irwin's death. At the moment that is just speculation," he said. "We do find dead stingrays with their tails cut off from time to time. People usually do it if they are worried about getting stung by a stingray, or they just do it maliciously, but it is pretty rare," Sumpton said.

Irwin's wildlife colleagues said killing stingrays was against his conservationist teachings. "We just want to make it very clear that we will not accept and not stand for anyone who's taken a form of retribution. That's the last thing Steve would want," said Michael Hornby, executive director of Irwin's Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.

The tails of stingrays carry toxic barbs that can measure up to 20 cm. Stings from their tails are not uncommon, although most generally suffer painful but non-lethal wounds in their feet or lower legs.

Irwin's case was thought to be only the third recorded fatal stingray attack in Australia.

News of his death sparked a remarkable outpouring of grief from Australia and around the world. Irwin's family and closest friends held a private funeral around a campfire at his Australia Zoo at the weekend, while a public memorial service is being planned for next Wednesday.

Straits Times Forum 26 Sep 06
Denying links with animals allows us to treat them like mere objects
Lettter from George Jacobs PhD President, Vegetarian Society (Singapore)

I REFER to the column, 'Irwin's 'final lesson' was his most valuable' by Ong Soh Chin ( ST, Sept 16).

A key point of the column seems to be that we humans are very different from our fellow animals.

Yes, I agree we do differ from other animals, but just as it is wrong to engage in anthropomorphism and overemphasise our similarities to other members of the animal kingdom, so too is it wrong to be in 'anthropodenial', a term used by Professor Frans de Waal, director of the Living Links Centre at the Yerkes National Primate Centre of Emory University in Atlanta in the United States.

Anthropodenial refuses to acknowledge the many similarities between other animals and ourselves. This is despite growing research evidence that other animals have a range of mental abilities, possess distinct personalities and experience an assortment of emotions.

Denying our links with other animals allows us to treat them like mere objects we can eat, drive to extinction and submit to anything else that suits our fancy.

Straits Times Forum 26 Sep 06
Understand and respect those around us - man or animal
 Letter from Shalini Pehrinparaj

I REFER to the recent influx of articles and letters with regards to Mr Steve Irwin and his treatment of animals.

Many seem to hold the view that he did what he did only for the publicity and sensationalism, but anyone who has watched any of his shows or interviews he did will disagree.

Mr Irwin had an obvious passion for animals and their conservation. He 'touched' an animal only if it was to be relocated or rescued. Mr Irwin taught scores of children (and many adults) how precious wildlife was.

More important, he showed them wildlife is not to be feared if one treats these animals with the respect they deserve. This lesson is more valuable than anything most of us learn about animals in science class.

However, it does not really matter what our views on Mr Irwin are at the moment. The fact is a life has been lost and we should sympathise with the anguish felt by his family and all who mourn him.

The articles and letters criticising him and his ways claim to do so as the writers believe his treatment of animals was wrong.

What then can be said of these writers who attack a man who has just died? Shouldn't they show some of the sensitivity they feel he lacked to his mourners?

We need to understand and respect those around us, be it man or animal. And I believe this is what 'Stevo' tried to teach us all the while.
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