"Crikey - isn't she a beauuty..." (Crocodile Hunter)

Member Name: Sandra-M

Product:	Crocodile Hunter
Date:	27/09/01 (313 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The most exciting wildlife programmme ever.

Disadvantages: None

If you watch The Crocodile Hunter on Animal Planet, you will recognise that this is how Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, talks about crocodiles which are the love of his life.

The Crocodile Hunter has to be the most exciting wildlife programme ever shown on TV. Australian born, Steve Irwin is the star of the show. You will seeing him wading in water, looking for crocodiles, fighting crocs, handling deadly snakes, letting spiders crawl over him. He puts himself in unbelievable danger. He brings the creatures up to the camera and educates the viewer with everything he knows about them, imparting his enthusiasm on to you.

At first you think he is so crazy putting himself in such danger and then you realise that he actually does know what he is doing as he has built up so much experience that he knows how to handle these creatures. He is often getting bitten, scratched, kicked. I keep thinking - one day this guy will be unlucky. There was even an internet rumour spread about Steve's death recently.

One show found him searching for the world's deadliest snakes, specifically spitting cobras. These snakes spit venom directly into a victim's eyes with deadly accuracy. Steve found one and picked him up by his tail. Steve put his backpack on the ground to give the snake something to aim at. The cobra was mad at Steve though and started turning to him. At this point Steve decided to put his sunglasses on. The cobra spat and sure enough it went all over Steve's glasses! The cobra spat again and this time some went in Steve's eyes and on his skin. He washed out his eyes with the water he had and ended up finding a Masi camp to get fresh water. He could have been blinded.

The most aggressive croc he has ever caught is now in the Australia Zoo. His name is Argo and is his favourite croc. Steve somehow managed to capture it single-handed, net it and haul it into his small boat. At one point ont the return
journey he thought it would break the boat in two. He made it home though but after getting the animal out of the boat, Steve was bitten on the foot. Nothing serious but it taught Steve never to get complacent with these animals. Even today the animal remains agressive towards Steve and the staff and has claimed several lawnmowers, sticks etc. Steve says that these can be replaced but arms and limbs can't. Steve remains sad that he had to take the croc away from his natural territory where he was king but was proving to be a threat to the local farmers. He claims that Argo is now happy defending his territory at the zoo where he has several girlfriends.

Steve was born in Queensland, Australia and has been catching crocodiles single-handed for most of his life. His parents started up The Australia Zoo in Queensland which he now owns and operates with his wife Terri. The zoo now holds the largest collection of crocodiles of any zoological institution. There are over nearly fresh and saltwater crocodiles there. All of these crocs have either been rescued by Steve or his father or bred in captivity. They started out protecting crocodiles from humans as the population in Australia spread. As a little boy, Steve and his father would go out at night jumping on crocodiles and netting them.

When he is not working in the Zoo where he still gives demonstrates, he is filming The Crocodile Hunter.

Steve and his wife Terri are passionate about educating and sharing their knowledge about the world's most feared and misunderstood animals. The Australia Zoo was the first beginnings in the programme of educating the public and now they are now about to reach millions through the media of television.

Steve is a very special person - once you have watched the show you will watch it again and again. He is one of these people you don't forget.

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