"Crocodile Hunter," died while mingling with wild creatures seemed by turns
logical and unthinkable: An actuary might point out that Irwin's career had been
fueled by his close encounters with lethal reptiles, insects and animals, yet
his boisterous enthusiasm and committed stance as an environmentalist made him
appear somehow invulnerable to those perils. His passion for animals began in
childhood after his family moved to Queensland, where his parents created a
small reptile and fauna park where Steve began handling snakes and crocodiles at
an early age. Although he never earned any degrees, Dr. Leo Smith of New York's
American Museum of Natural History told The New York Times Irwin "could be
considered a biologist rather than just a television personality" due to his
extensive knowledge and infectious passion for wildlife.
(Image: Theodore Wood/Camera Press/Retna Ltd.)
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