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Probably one of the most recognizable names in wildlife conservation is Steve Irwin’s. Even though it’s almost 20 years after his death, the Australian conservationist, zookeeper, TV personality and wildlife educator is still as active in the hearts of many who grew up knowing him as the “Crocodile Hunter.” Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z alike—American, Australian and more—all know Irwin as a leading figure in conservation.
As ZooLab UK reported, Irwin was a “pioneer in the field of animal conservation in Australia and across the world,” and that’s in part thanks to the many people he was able to reach with his message through his TV show, The Crocodile Hunter. Unfortunately, most of us remember when Irwin died in September 2006. While filming his show, he was in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and accidentally provoked a venomous bull stingray to attack. It stung him in the chest; he went into cardiac arrest and died from his wounds, per Britannica.
Despite that tragic end, Irwin is remembered for his love of animals and his desire to save them and their habitats. Our quote of the day highlights one of Irwin’s many sentiments surrounding wildlife and saving the planet for every living thing, which still rings true today.
According to Australia Zoo, Irwin was born in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia, on Feb. 22, 1962. His parents moved their family to Beerwah, Queensland, where they opened Beerwah Reptile Park in 1970. Because of his own parents’ love for animals and wildlife, Irwin grew up with that same admiration; he caught his first venomous snake at six years old, and by nine he “was helping catch small problem crocodiles,” per the zoo’s site. The park’s name changed to “Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park” in 1980, and Irwin renamed it to “Australia Zoo” in 1998, which is what it’s known as today.
Per Britannica, audiences of his TV series were so taken with Irwin thanks to his “frenetic energy and an engaging boyish enthusiasm” as he got people “recklessly close” through his “encounters with deadly and usually endangered animals” (specifically crocodiles, of course). It ran from 1996 to 2004, with a few specials released between 2005 and 2007, including “Ocean’s Deadliest,” which was what Irwin was filming when he died, along with two tributes in 2007 and a final special called “Secrets of the Crocodile,” which was filmed in 2005 and released on the first anniversary of his death.
Irwin took over management of the park in 1991 and met Terri Irwin (formerly Raines) two days later, when she was a visiting tourist, per Australia Zoo’s website. They married the next year in Oregon and worked together so closely in conservation efforts. They both had similar things to say about sharing the planet with wildlife and saving Earth not just for us, but them too.
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Quote of the Day by Steve Irwin
“We don't own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife.”
This quote appears near the end of the 2002 book, The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin, written by Steve Irwin and his wife, Terri Irwin. It’s the only book Steve wrote, and it was a staple in classrooms and more (I remember seeing it all of the time in my grammar school library).
It was part autobiographical and part informative. As the book’s description reads, “Steve provides intimate insights into their private life away from the cameras. Learn how they first met, how they successfully translated a shared love of animals into a worldwide message of conservation, and how they built one of the largest private animal refuges in Australia.”
In the book, Terri Irwin says something very similar to Steve’s quote: “If we save our wild places, we will ultimately save ourselves.” This is after she writes about how, even though wildlife rehabilitation efforts often have a “happy ending," there are (many) other cases where that’s not the case. She says this is because the problems that displaced these animals in the first place—poachers, dogs, busy roads, etc.—might still be there. So they created a habitat in the Outback that’s safe to keep animals who need a safe haven to live in.
After, Steve Irwin takes over the perspective of the chapter. He recognizes that their “own Australian backyard” needs to be cleaned up, and some “of the worst mammalian extinction rates in the world” are happening in his country. Humans are destroying habitats like rainforests, mangroves, wetlands and deserts “all in the name of progress.”
He urges all of us to “take time to consider every single way we are contributing to the detriment of the environment.” He then shares a plea to “every single businessperson who reads this book”:
“... Focus on rectifying any damage your business processes are doing to the environment. The time has come when all of us must be held accountable. We don't own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife.”
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Deeper Meaning of Steve Irwin’s Quote—‘We Don’t Own the Planet’
This quote feels like it sums up most of Steve Irwin’s work. This notion that humans don’t own the planet has been around for eons, with Native Americans and other indigenous people all over the world taking this belief seriously; it impacted how they hunted, planted and more. Irwin understood this deeply, and through his work with wildlife conservation, he saw how humans’ actions negatively impacted animals and the environment firsthand. Living in the modern, Western world, and after decades of technological advancements, Irwin’s words resonate even more today than they did then.
Steve and Terri’s insights share the undeniable truth that no one owns the planet. And so, instead of continuing actions that are destroying the Earth, Steve urges us all to treat it as something we’re borrowing. Almost like the Girl Scout Law: to leave places better than how you found them. And while that’s what I have experience with, other scout and youth programs have similar sentiments.
And in remembering to treat the Earth as if we’re a guest, we also need to remember that we’re sharing it with wildlife and act accordingly. This means treating the planet with kindness so that all living things can enjoy Mother Nature’s gifts. It also means cohabitating with wildlife as if they have a right to live on this land as well. That includes not destroying habitats and helping animals when in need (safely, which can look like calling conservationists or animal experts if one is in need).
Interestingly enough, Robert Irwin recently spoke with Parade about his photography and more. He has continued on his father’s legacy, alongside Terri and his sister Bindi Irwin, and in the interview, Robert spoke about AI regarding wildlife photography and its impacts on wildlife in general.
“As with any advancement in technology, I think we sometimes forget about the environmental destruction that it can cause,” he said.
He went on to speak more about how AI photos of animals can “[dilute] what is impressive” with wildlife photography. But the spirit of Steve Irwin’s push for wildlife conservation can absolutely be felt in Robert’s words as well.
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More Quotes from Steve Irwin
- “If something ever happens to me, people are gonna be like 'we knew a croc would get him!'”
- “We humans still have a long way to go with learning to live harmoniously with our environment and its wildlife.”
- “If you can't excite people about wildlife, how can you convince them to love, cherish, and protect our wildlife and the environment they live in?”
- “Crocodiles are easy. They try to kill and eat you. People are harder. Sometimes they pretend to be your friend first.”
- “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.”
- “I have a message for my fans. Whatever you want to do in this world, it is achievable. The most important thing that I've found, that perhaps you could use, is be passionate and enthusiastic in the direction that you choose in life, and you'll be a winner.”
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