Steve Irwin - A Man I will Never Forget

Steve Irwin, whom I will always remember as The Crocodile Hunter.

I began watching his shows when I was seventeen. I must say he is one of the main reasons for my love to reptiles. The way he caught the animal, his expressions, his words, everything would be so real and fascinating, that the only thing you are rather missing is feeling the animal yourself.

In high-energy programs from Africa, the Americas and Asia, but especially his beloved Australia, Irwin — dressed always in khaki shorts, shirt and heavy boots — crept up on lions, chased and was chased by komodo dragons, and went eye-to-eye with poisonous snakes.

Often, his trademark big finish was to hunt down one of the huge saltwater crocodiles that inhabit the rivers and beaches of the Outback in Australia’s tropical north, leap onto its back, grabbing its jaws with his bare hands, then tying the animal’s mouth with rope.

He was a committed conservationist, running a wildlife park for crocodiles and other Australian fauna, including kangaroos, koalas and possums, and using some of his TV wealth to buy tracts of land for use as natural habitat.

I wish I had met this man just once. Kiss his huge hands with which he held all those animals and thank him for all his work and commitment.