Stephen Robert Irwin (Steve Irwin), better known as ‘the crocodile hunter, was an Australian television celebrity and wildlife conservationist, who featured in an international wildlife documentary series (The Crocodile Hunter) with his wife and co-host Terri. Irwin also founded and maintained the Australia Zoo in Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Irwin’s zoo was a popular tourist destination as he was an active promoter of Queensland and Australian tourism. Irwin was actively involved with Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service promoting slogans such as "Quarantine Matters! Don't muck with it". For his extraordinary service to global conservation and to Australian tourism, he was awarded with the Centenary Medal by the Australian government. This crocodile hunter met with a tragic accident while shooting a documentary film, when he was bitten by a sting ray and unfortunately lost his life. Many newly found species of snails, turtles and gorillas were named after him to honor his legacy. We have collected some of his most fantastic quotes from his shows, speeches, interviews, writings etc. Here are some famous quotes from this iconic protector of the wild.
We don’t own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife.
Steve Irwin
When I talk to the camera, mate, it's not like I'm talking to the camera, I'm talking to you because I want to whip you around and plunk you right there with me.
It never ceases to amaze me how cruel some people are. Do you think people would be so merciless and torturous if fish and sharks cried like babies when they felt pain?
You know, you can touch a stick of dynamite, but if you touch a venomous snake it’ll turn around and bite you and kill you so fast it’s not even funny.
If we can get people excited about animals, then by crikey, it makes it a heck of a lot easier to save them.
Steve Irwin
Yeah, for some reason parrots have to bite me. That's their job. I don't know why that is. They've nearly torn my nose off. I've had some really bad parrot bites.
I'm a proud Australian, a very, very proud Australian.
Steve Irwin
So now what happens is the cameras follow me around and capture exactly what I've been doing since I was a boy. Only now we have a team of, you know, like 73 of us, and it's gone beyond that.
My dad taught me from my youngest childhood memories through these connections with Aboriginal and tribal people that you must always protect people's sacred status, regardless of the past.
There's a lot of research behind the scenes that you don't get to see, but I have an instinct that my dad nurtured from when I was born. I was very lucky then.
Because when they strike it can be that quick that if they're within range, you're dead, you're dead in your tracks. And his head weighs more than my body so it's WHACK!
Herein lies our problem. If we level that much land to grow rice and whatever, then no other animal could live there except for some insect pest species. Which is very unfortunate.
Steve Irwin
That might have a lot to do with it, but you know, I probably don't show fear, but I suffer from fear like everyone else.
I bled a lot. I got hit across the face. We couldn't film for seven days. I got hit, whacked, underwater, across the face. I finished the shot, got into the boat and blood started coming out.
So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
Steve Irwin
Since I was a boy, from this house, I was out rescuing crocodiles and snakes. My mum and dad were very passionate about that and, I was lucky enough to go along.
Snakes are just very instinctive to me. I've been playing with snakes since before I could walk. It doesn't matter where or what it is, from the biggest to the most venomous.
Take the crocodile, for example, my favorite animal. There are 23 species. Seventeen of those species are rare or endangered. They're on the way out, no matter what anyone does or says, you know.
You know, you can touch a stick of dynamite, but if you touch a venomous snake it'll turn around and bite you and kill you so fast it's not even funny.
