People around the world reacted with shock in September 2006 when news broke that Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter," had died. His enthusiasm for life and for God's creatures was contagious, making him a favorite personality worldwide.

When his wife Terrir was interviewed shortly after Steve's death, her love for him was obvious as she said through her tears, "I've lost my prince." What an affectionate way to memorialize her husband! She saw him as her prince and her best friend.

Too often today the husband-wife relationship is viewed as anything but the tender on Terri and Steve must have shared. We often see bitterness, insults, and animosity presented in the media as the norm. How much more desirable it is to see true love--to see a husband unashamedly cherish his wife, to unselfishly be her "prince."

How can a husband continue to love his wife in a more princely way? Try these suggestions:Listen--enjoy those tender times when she can unburden her heart without fear. Love Life--find ways to add fun to your marriage. Lead spiritually guide the way into prayer and intimate fellowship with the Lord. Men, be a prince to your princess---Dave Branon.

Honor your wife and in love with her dwell, Yield to the Savior and all will be well; Peace He will give to both husband and wife, Blessing their marriage with joy throughout life.--Anon

My office was recently taken over by a lizard that reminded me a little too much of Jurassic Park. We've called facility services, but he/she likes to hide when they show up. I may have to go 'crocodile hunter' on this one. (Everyone keeps asking me if I've caught it yet!) Actually, since it summer break, I think I'll work from home for a spell.

(Kim Kardashian loves koalas...not that it has anything to do with Ely's..umm...infection)

This is a bizarre story when you consider he survived being hit by a car. And then you read what else he's being treated for besides his injuries from the car. Ely's a straight playa!

CANBERRA (Reuters) - A koala that cheated death after being hit by a car at 100 kmh (about 60 mph) and dragged with his head jammed through the vehicle grill for 12 kms (about 7 miles) is being dubbed Australia's luckiest marsupial.

The eight-year-old male koala, named "Ely 'Lucky' Grills" by rescuers, was struck by an unwitting motorist north of Brisbane and found only when the car stopped after being flagged down by another vehicle.

"To have him survive and virtually unscathed is quite miraculous," Australian Wildlife Hospital spokewoman Carolyn Beaton told Reuters Tuesday.

"Lucky" hung on during his ordeal with one arm and his trapped head, and was freed with household scissors used like a fireman's "jaws-of-life" to cut around the car's mesh grill with the horrified owner's permission, Beaton said.

"Whilst Lucky was in shock, he quickly recovered and was nearly better after a couple of hours rest and a feed," she said.

Lucky will stay at the hospital, set up by the late television wildlife and crocodile crusader Steve Irwin, for 45 days to recover from his experience and receive treatment for a chlamydial infection.

Now that I think about it, I do recall reading that Pamela Anderson just returned from a trip to Australia as well.....<ponders>

But does the lack of a non-partially-demolished venue keep the Big News writers from their stellar comic craft? Heck no! Here's the jokes you would have heard in the Big News Report this past Sunday (plus a few on stories that broke in the days since then).

Bill Clinton says he will help Barack Obama during his presidential campaign. Clinton will help by not sleeping with Michelle Obama.

Colombian spies rescued kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors Wednesday from leftist rebels without a single shot being fired. One Colombian agent explained that the key to their success was a maneuver he described as the "'Hey! Look over there!' ruse".

President Bush said Wednesday that June has been a “tough month” for US Soldiers in Afghanistan. US Soldiers agreed, but then added that it's been more like a tough seven years.

A man was arrested at Los Angeles International airport on Wednesday after telling police he was a terrorist with a bomb in his backpack. The man decided to give himself up when he learned that American Airlines was going to charge him to bring the bomb on the plane.

A man was arrested at Los Angeles International airport on Wednesday after telling police he was a terrorist with a bomb in his backpack. The man was released after airport security confirmed that the bomb weighed less than 3 ounces.

A man was arrested at Los Angeles International airport on Wednesday after telling police he was a terrorist with a bomb in his backpack. Police searched the man's backpack and found a DVD of The Love Guru.

Scientists believe there's a 50-50 chance the North Pole will be completely ice-free this summer. Which means there's a 50-50 chance Santa Claus will die and Christmas will be canceled.

Matthew McConaughey became a father Monday night when his girlfriend Camila gave birth to a son they named Levi. The baby has his mother's eyes and his father's shirtlessness.

Matthew McConaughey became a father Monday night when his girlfriend Camila gave birth to a son they named Levi. The baby is already home and riding tricycles in Malibu with Lance Armstrong's baby.

"WALL-E" was the number one movie at the box office last weekend, taking in $63.1 million. It's the most successful movie starring a robot since "An Inconvenient Truth."

Angelina Jolie's doctor says it may be a few more weeks until the actress gives birth to her twins. And after she has twins, Jolie will abandon them so that she can come back three weeks later and adopt them.

Angelina Jolie's doctor says it may be a few more weeks until the actress gives birth to her twins. Extra security has been laid on at the hospital where Jolie is staying to stop Madonna from trying to adopt them.

AT&T announced they will soon offer a version of the iPhone that will not include a mandatory phone contract. In addition, they are also working on an iPhone that will not turn the buyer into a giant douchebag.

A cemetery manager in Australia has reported that many Australians are choosing unusual songs for their funeral, such as Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". The most unusual choice was at Steve Irwin's funeral, which had the song "Oh My God, I've Been Stabbed by a Stingray!"

A cemetery manager in Australia has reported that many Australians are choosing unusual songs for their funeral, such as Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". The person who chose "Stairway to Heaven" only did so because "Highway to Hell" was taken.

Last month, the 38th annual Gay Pride Parade was held in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the first annual Gay Shame Parade was held at Larry Craig's house.

A new report suggests that babies conceived from frozen embryos are just as healthy as those conceived naturally. Just, generally, colder.

A new report suggests that babies conceived from frozen embryos are just as healthy as those conceived naturally. As long as you heat the frozen embryos on high for 4 minutes, stir, and heat for another 1-1 1/2 minutes before injecting them into your uterus.

Larry Harmon, who bought the rights to Bozo the Clown and turned the character into a show business institution, died Thursday in Los Angeles at age 83. And the next day, America lost an even bigger Bozo when former Senator Jesse Helms died at age 86.

And finally, Eric Lieber, who produced the dating show "Love Connection", dies last week at age 71. However, Lieber is expected to return from the grave in two and two.

Australian Zoo. Home of the Crocodile Hunter.

Tijdens onze eerste weken in Australie horen van verschillende reizigers dat de Australian Zoo een 'highlight' is. Ook in de Lonely Planet staat een dikke aanbeveling... Well, time to check it out!

Vonden wij Steve Irwin met zijn krokodillen op TV altijd nogal overdreven, in Australie is hij een held! Waarom blijkt als we het park opkomen. Voor alle beestjes die hier huizen zijn enorm ruime en schone verblijven gebouwd. En overal is het groen. Je moet goed zoeken naar de bewoners van een verblijf, want de huisvesting is vaak zo groot dat je even moet rondlopen om het beest te vinden. En je kunt zien dat ze het naar hun zin hebben. Geen beesten die verveeld rondjes draaien of tegen het hek stampen.

Bob en Lyn Irwin begonnen deze dierentuin in 1970. Zoon Steve (the Crocodile Hunter) en zijn vrouw namen het management in 1992 over. Hun doel is om door educatie wildlife te 'behouden'. 'Conservation through exciting education'. Steve is in 2006 overleden. Hij kreeg de staart van een stingray in zijn hart toen hij aan het filmen was voor zijn volgende 'Awesome' documentaire. Zijn familie zet zijn levenswerk voort. Toegangsgelden worden gebruikt om bedreigde diersoorten te behouden. Ook is er een dierenziekenhuis om gewonde dieren uit de streek te helpen.

Steve had vooral een enorme passie voor krokodillen. Vandaar dat er in het park verschillende exemplaren 'te bewonderen' (brrr) zijn. Het centrale stadion is omgedoopt tot 'Crocoseum' en daar pikken we een showtje mee. We leren vanalles over de olifanten, slangen, vogels en zien een enorme zoutwater krokodil (saltie) voorbij komen. 'They earned their space, so give them space' is de leus. De regels: bij salties hun territoriale waters niet in het water gaan, over het water hangen of op de oever komen. Vanaf nu zijn we in 'croc-country'... Oke, wij weten voor de rest van onze trip genoeg en blijven in de camper zitten ;-)

Ook komt de dierentuin, tijdens deze dag, geregeld naar ons toe. Medewerkers lopen rond met slangen, (mini)krokodillen, wombats, kamelen en dingo's. Ze geven uitleg over de beestjes en je mag ze best even aanraken of op de foto zetten. Ook zijn er overal 'mini-shows'. Nog meer uitleg over beestjes die op dat moment hun eten krijgen. Wat een gigantische hoeveelheid medewerkers en vrijwilligers loopt hier trouwens rond! En ze hebben allemaal datzelfde 'crocodile hunter' enthousiasme. Een beetje aanstekelijk is het wel.

Tot slot voert Miriam dan ook een olifant 'AWESOME'. En treedt Jeroen in de voetsporen van de Crocodile Hunter 'CROCS RULE!'. Als we op het eind van de dag het park verlaten, zien we in de giftshop, een pop met de gelijkenis van Steve Irwin. Als je op zijn linkerborstzak drukt zegt hij 'Crickey! Big day ahead!'. Als je op zijn rechter borstzak drukt zegt hij 'Crocs rule'.

Eens kijken Crocodile Hunter- Martens dat vanavond ook doet... CRICKEY.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I mean, really, are you fricking KIDDING me?

This bride above is THREE. THREE.

I Cry.

I read on CNN.com today

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/04/17/yemen.child.ap/index.html

that there is an 8 year old that has been granted a divorce. And I start to feel my McDonald’s Southwest salad with grilled chicken coming back up my esophagus because to be granted a divorce, you need to be married and who is the Mother FUCK who marries an 8 year old, but the biggest Yemen perv in the world. I can’t even begin to imagine that the girl in the above picture is THRRREEEEEEE.

My littest daughter, Cracker, just turned two. So if we lived in Yemen, how excited would we be right now because we could be planning a wedding! In between trips to the park in her stroller and nappy time, we can get her eensy weensy little extremities Henna-ed for the wedding. In between diaper changes and teaching her how to eat with a fork, we can go register for china at Macy’s and linens at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Or more appropriately, we can just copy her fucking BABY registry and change the title to BRIDAL registry. Jesus, Joseph, Mary and all of the Saints, this is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Please don’t tell me that these marriages are consummated. At the very least, toss a shila on their heads, dress them up like brunette Henna-handed Jen Benet’s if you must, have your little cultural ceremony that you need, but then for the love of Allah, send her back to her parent's straw hut afterwards and lock her away in a straw closet so the big bad husband can’t touch her until she is 18.

I picture Cracker getting married when she is comfortably, 28. Same thing for her sister, Bambi. Well, actually, Bambi I worry about. We may need to get she to a nunnery and fast. She is gorgeous and a whole lotta trouble. And she’s only six. Perhaps we can send Bambi to live with the crocodile girl in the jungle with the dead crocodile dad. I don’t think they sell their young in Australia. But Bambi does have a tendancy to harm small animals completely without her knowledge so she might not be welcome.

Me and the girls were at my cousin,s last summer, let's call them Felt and Teeth. It was like 104 and all the kids were on the slip-n-slide, my son, Alpha and the other boys are rotating between playing baseball and jumping in the kiddy pool: you get the picture. The adults are dying, sweating and drinking Corona. My cousins have frogs that sometimes live in their window gutters and Bambi found four of them. She put them in this little plastic habitat house. If you have ever gone bug hunting with a child, you know what I mean. And she kept poking them, and flinging the thing around and every 4 minutes I was like, BAMBI leave the FROGS ALONE, so she was slick about it, really really slick and I caught her sneaking the habitat under her arm and she ran like a bat out of hell to the other side of the house. As she is running, I see these poor four little frogs, being catapulted, whipped, brain damaged and flung all over the walls of this hot death machine and I was Like, "Baaammmmmbbbiiippputtthefrogdsddoownnnnnnn", so she dropped them. Kerplunk.
Before I could go over and assess the reptilian damage, I start running after baby Cracker and forget about the poor little buggers and a FEW HOURS later, we have to leave. And she goes to get her frogs so she can bring them home.

“They are not ours honey and we cant take them home, they belong to nature. Get in the car.”

“But I will put them in a baggie, mommy, you will see.”

(Deadlyphoto.com LMFAO, who is THAT webmaster? Talk about fucked up...)

...”HONEY”…and then she is screaming and screaming…and the frogs, the poor little flung fucking frogs, who were tossed., left in the scorching sun and now are laying askew in the upside down frog habitat from hell are murdered. And I am an accessory to a very violent death. She sees this and she cannot even live another minute.

“I KIIILLLLLEEDD TTHHHEMMMM IIIII KKIIILLLLEEDDD TTTHHHEEMMM”
“nononono honey, they are just hot from the sun and they are sleeping” so Teeth and I put them in their waterfall in the back and they are floating lifeless and banging against the little decorative rocks and we tell them to take a long cool drink…”drink froggies, drink”…
Cracker is keening and wailing harder than the Ma of a Dublin IRA prisoner and I carry my weeping frog murderer to the car.

I told Teeth, whispering, “Call me in 20 minutes and tell us that they are fine and that they hopped away. “

The phone call worked and Bambi recovered with only a few tiny permanent scars. But I digress...I was talking about infant brides.

OK, I have done a little research.

They do make them have sex.

“She charged that her husband constantly beat her and forced her to have sex.

‘I used to run from room to room to escape from him. But he would catch up with me,’ the girl said, her tiny frame swallowed in an oversized robe and head scarf, standing with her lawyer.”

…

…

…

There is no excuse in any culture for this. Please some try to explain this to me and make the hurt go away.

Oh, and let’s see here, let me just check Yemen off the Places We Want To Take Our Family For Vacation List. DESLECT. There we go.

Oh, oh Good! Here, look what I found. PHEW! Oh, this makes me feel so much better. Here, look at this,

“Although it has no legal minimum age for marriage, the wife is only allowed to live with her husband once she has reached puberty.”

Excellent, so when they get their period at THIRTEEN, it’s all good. The perv husbands can have them then. Fantastic, I feel so much better and I hope you do, too. I am off to go hug Cracker and Bambi now, throw away the keys to their chastisty belts, burn their passports and lock them in the basement.

Blessed with her father's innate connection to wildlife and a quick, cute wit that is her own, Bindi Irwin has forged ahead in her father's absence to carry the messages of nature conservation. With the caring guidance of Terri Irwin, her stout-hearted and intelligent mother, Bindi has traveled extensively, including promotional visits to New York and Los Angeles. Additionally, when she's not globe trotting, Bindi makes regular entertainment appearances at the Animal Planet Crocoseum, in conjunction with Australia Zoo.

The tireless exploits of Bindi Irwin have led her directly into the spotlight. On March 5, the Australia Zoo website announced that Bindi has been nominated for a Logie Award. Logies are Australian television awards, in existence since 1958. Bindi Irwin has been nominated for Most Popular New Talent--Female. It is said that she has been nominated along side some very popular actresses.

Click here for the full article.

Better known as the "Bugman" to his fellow New Zealanders, Kleinpaste is insane. And I don't mean Les Stroud insane, or even Bear Grylls insane. I mean, call the local insane asylum and book the next 60 years insane. I was watching this show on Animal Planet called the "World's Biggest, Baddest Bugs," and I see this guy staring at a giant spider. By staring at the spider, I mean the spider was walking around a table and he was at eye-level with it. And by giant spider, I mean an enormous, highly poisonous spider...like call the nearest morgue poisonous spider. So he's just sitting there, staring at said spider and talking about how poisonous and enormous it is, and then he sticks his hand out. The ferocious, angry, poison-infused spider crawls on his hand and around his arm, and I'm not sure, but I think the guy started petting it. He said something along the lines of, "They're really not so mean unless they're frightened," and I was just thinking to myself, "Well, aren't you frightening it??" Doesn't frightening a highly poisonous spider entail a strange human stroking its hairy back in a sexual suggestive manner?

Well, I was hooked. The Bugman survived the first bout with the insect that I witnessed. Note that I said, "that I witnessed." The show was almost over when I tuned in so I probably don't even know the half of what his craziness involved. Although I did see a coming attraction with him fighting a sumo wrestler, which, as far as I can tell, has nothing to do with bugs.

Either way, I figured, that must have been the grand finale. It wasn't. The Bugman then traveled across the world to New Mexico, or somewhere in that vicinity to play with the Africanized honey bees. He first met with some Africanized honey bee expert who told him exactly how deadly these bees are, and how anyone would have to be lacking in sanity to attempt anything touchy feely with them. Oh, I should also add an interesting tidbit regarding Africanized honey bees. Apparently, these bees are really attached to their queen. They live for their queen. They will kill to defend their queen. So, if they feel their queen is threatened, they will chase the perpetrator for one mile. I found this strange. Why a mile? Would they give chase for a mile and a foot? Or would they just reach that mile point and then simultaneously droop their heads and fly back to the hive? The morale is, if you ever find yourself being chased by Africanized honey bees, you better hope you can run a mile in under 2 minutes.

Anyway, the Bugman starts to examine the honey bee nest. Ok, I thought, that's not bad. He goes to the hive at night, and sticks a camera in there...he didn't just stick his head in the nest or anything cooky like that. But the next day, he met up with the bee expert again, and tried something new. The bee expert sprayed pheromones on the Bugman's body (the pheromones smelled like the queen bee). Now, he sprayed pheromones on the Bugman's regular clothes. He wasn't wearing one of those huge, astronaut-like bee suits. And then small groups of bees started landing on the Bugman. This was crazy, but not yet. Then the expert (who was wearing one of those bee suits), took a giant bag of Africanized honey bees, tossed them up in the air, and then ran away. A blinding mass of these bees poured onto the Bugman. At first, the expert came back, and the Bugman started asking him questions while this insanity was occurring on his body. But then the bees started going in his mouth. At that point he stopped talking, though at points he murmured, "I'm starting to panic..." At which point the expert responded, "Just be calm." Be calm?? You couldn't even see the Bugman after a few minutes...his entire head was a mass of bees, there were bees in his mouth, a deafening buzz in his ears, and it looked like he was going to tip over from sheer bee weight. But don't panic, of course.

I was also wondering how in the world these bees were going to come off. It happened like this. The expert had some sort of air blower, and he blew it at a chunk of bees. The bees momentarily cleared, and the expert sprayed something on the phermones to get the smell away. He kept doing this until you could see the Bugman's human form again. Finally, the bees were gone. I don't think the Bugman got stung, except for when the expert was clearing them away...I think he accidentally smushed some bees on the Bugman...which was actually pretty hilarious at the time.

That's the story of the Bugman. He's insane with a capital "I," and a very lowercase "sane." Steve Irwin did some insane things in his day as well. He wrestled crocodiles, played with snakes and swam with stingrays (the last one did not end too well.) So I suppose they're not so different...this guy just likes bugs more than crocodiles. It might just be my personality that puts the Bugman in a category of his own. I hate bugs. Cockroaches freak me out. If I were one of these people, I could see myself wrestling crocodiles. They don't bother me that much, in theory. In person, I'd probably cry. I could also be a survivorman. Well, like I said before, I would be "Not surviving man..." but the "idea" doesn't seem that absurd. I can see it being fun. But playing with giant spiders...no....just no.

Call me old fashioned. I like long walks on the beach, Phish Food ice cream and The Simpsons. And I like my Africanized honey bees where they should be....not on me.

No, I guarantee you, my time is very well-spent. I'm right here watching Crocodile Hunter re-runs... by crikey!!!

Seriously, I think my being sick this long has affected my level of creativity and desire to post anything sensible. Could it be writer's block, perhaps? I don't know, I'm not a writer. But bear with me, anyway. I may have been simply lazy lately.

Oh well. Somehow, someday, I will be back in my normal element.

But for now... I'm enjoying the late Steve Irwin's legendary over-the-top enthusiasm as he whispers words of love into the ear of a monitor lizard.

I love it. He's infectious. I miss him. Gotta go.

Presentator Edens is verhinderd en zal vandaag niet Dit Was Het Nieuws presenteren
no Harm done

Ik kan er geen chocola van maken zei Jezus, en Hij maakte brood van de vis

Ik kan er geen chocola van maken zei Jezus, en Hij veranderde water in wijn

Of zoals de fotograaf zei nadat foto's van Lieke van Lexmond waren uitgelekt:
Gelukkig hebben we DE foto's nog!

Foto's Lieke uitgelekt...
Nu Lieke zelf nog

Of zoals haar ex zei, nadat ze uit elkaar waren:
Gelukkig heb ik de foto's nog

Ik heb m'n respect voor Lieke verloren
Gelukkig heb ik de foto's nog

God zag een potje snooker en zei: Kicks! (en zo is 't gekomen)

Dood Crocodile Hunter toch nog onverwacht
of...
Dood Crocodile Hunter niet geheel onverwacht

Na de licht blauwe spijkerbroek, nu ook de donker blauwe spijkerbroek

Het is één en-al-april dat ik slik

Onbekende schone houdt verkeer op
of...
Verkeers-agente weet het ook niet meer

Nog zó gezegd, voor de pòes!

© JJ's Hoompeetsj 2008

That's a big blighter!

Hoy hace un año de la muerte de de Steve Irvin. Más conocido por su programa “El cazador de cocodrilos” (The Crocodile Hunter) que ha emitido Tv3 (y otras autonómicas).

Este zoólogo australiano, estrella televisiva e imagen del Zoo de Australia, falleció mientras rodaba un documental en la costa australiana de Queensland.

Simpático y fortachón, era una personalidad televisiva fresca y dinámica. Era bastante peculiar verlo corretear con su pantalón corto color caqui, y revolcándose por el barro abrazado a un cocodrilo descomunal.

Fue 1992 cuando apareció el primero de los documentales bajo el título de “The Crocodile hunter”, y Steve hacía su despeinada aparición entre las bestias. Desde entonces no ha cesado en su empeño de acercar la naturaleza a la gente del sofá. Desmitificando en parte esa terrible mala fama que tienen sus animales favoritos: los cocodrilos. Curiosa predilección animal nacida del afecto que su padre le inculcó por estas (y otras) bestias.

Irvin comprendió que la tele era espectáculo, y a menudo exageró en sus reportajes. La situación habitual era verle correteando por el desierto, y de repente, a tres cientos metros veía una serpiente en mitad de la pista. El tipo que salía disparado y saltaba encima del bicho agarrándolo con cuidado. Lo acercaba a la cámara y no dudaba a regañarle con tono materno por haber cruzado la pista y haberse expuesto a ser atropellado. Nos recordaba lo venenoso que era, mientras defendía a ultranza el bicho y afirmaba que tan sólo atacaba cuando se sentía acorralado y que no era “malo” como decía la tradición popular o el cine. (Y cuanto más venenoso era el bicho más lo toqueteaba) Tras manosearlo, lo llevaba al otro lado de la carretera y lo dejaba, no sin peculiares advertencias sobre “cruzar sin mirar”.

En “cómo se rueda El Cazador de Cocodrilos” nos mostraban como la serpiente en cuestión la había dejado un compañero del zoo, medio minuto antes que llegase Steve.

Otro ejemplo de show es el que se producía en el zoo. Cuando había que hacer reformas o trasladar a los cocodrilos de recinto, en lugar de cerrar el zoo, o hacerlo en vacaciones, abrían las puertas, ponían gradas suplementarias y llamaban a la tele. Y hacía un traslado en live para todo el país.

Esta exageración, este espectáculo, era la llave por la que Steve se metía en la tele y atrapaba tu atención. Luego estaban documentales de relleno como uno acerca del nacimiento de su hija (Mindi); acerca del viaje de la familia por USA para promocionar su película; o uno de Steve y su amigo Wes Cannion haciendo surf. Todo ello ya cuando la estrella de sus documentales no eran los animales, sino él.

Las productoras (DISCOVEY CHANNEL y ANIMAL PLANET) sacaron camisetas, muñecos y todo tipo de merchandising. Aparte de aparecer en cameos en DR DOLITTLE 2, y en SOUTH PARK, Steve ha protagonizado anuncios en su tierra natal para vehículos todoterreno y ha sido imagen cebo para el turismo de la isla continente. Aparte de tener su propia película:

THE CROCODILE HUNTER: COLLISION COURSE

Movía una industria económicamente muy rentable tras de sí, y también él debía sacar buena tajada para su zoo. Pero ello no quita ni debe desvirtuar su trabajo (y el de su equipo) para el beneficio y cuidado (y en algunos casos: salvación) de animales de la maltrecha y rara fauna australiana.

Hará un par de años una imagen suya, dando de comer (a metro y medio) a uno de los cocodrilos del zoo con su hijo pequeño, Bob, en brazos, dio la vuelta al mundo. Esa imagen expuesta como espectáculo circense le hizo mucho daño. Le acusaron de loco, de exponerse (y exponer al bebé) al peligro para un burdo espectáculo para turistas.

No fue una idea muy acertada, pero cualquiera que vea sus trabajos: la profesionalidad y el despliegue de equipo y medios en el traslado de cocodrilos, o la seguridad –real- tras las aparentemente alocadas inmersiones selváticas de Steve, verá que sabían lo que hacían.

Jamás negó que hubiese riesgo en mucho de lo que realizaba, pero hay mucha gente –y mucha por televisión- que corre riesgos por nada. Steve Irvin era alguien a quien le agradaba ese punto de riesgo y peligro (hace falta para acercase a un cocodrilo). En alguna ocasión le vimos sudar de miedo teniendo a un palmo a una serpiente mortal, pero, esa exaltaciones tan suyas de adrenalina eran propias de alguien que se lo pasa bomba con lo que hace; y detrás también tenía a un buen y gran equipo, como su amigo Wes, que en algún documental llega a quitarle de encima un bicho justo a tiempo.

En sus documentales, aparte de un espectáculo, queda plasmado el amor sincero que sentía por la naturaleza, y la voluntad divulgativa de acercar aquello que tanto le agradaba a todos nosotros.

Gracias Steve,
¡CROCS RULE!

Steve Irvin (22-Febrero-1962 / 4–Setiembre-2006)

KROKOTIILINMETSÄSTÄJÄN KUOLEMA
Luontodokumenttien supertähti herätti suuria tunteita

Queenslandin trooppisella maaperällä Australiassa sijaitsee edesmenneen omistajansa maailmankuuluksi tekemä eläintarha Australia Zoo. Viime vuoden syyskuussa kuollut luonnonsuojelija ja televisiotähti Steve Irwin peri eläintarhan isältään, jolta hän sai myös pelottoman asenteensa matelijoita ja muita eläimiä kohtaan. Irwin - taiteilijanimeltään Crocodile Hunter - paini viisimetristen krokotiilien kanssa, antautui kuristajakäärmeiden syleiltäväksi, katsoi silmästä silmään maailman myrkyllisimpiä hämähäkkejä. Showmiehen äärimmäisen innostunut esiintymistyyli, vahva australianmurre ja tavaramerkiksi muodostunut crikey-huudahdus saattoivat ärsyttää monia, mutta toivat Irwinille myös runsain mitoin ihailijoita.

Irwinin televisioura alkoi Australiasta, mutta suursuosioon hän ylsi ensimmäisenä Yhdysvalloissa. Crocodile Hunter –televisiosarja debytoi Australian televisiossa vuonna 1996. Seuraavana vuonna showta alettiin esittää Amerikassa, jossa khakiasuisen krokotiilimiehen vilpitön lapsenomaisuus ja luonnontieteellinen asiantuntemus siivittivät hänet yleisön tietoisuuteen. Crocodile Hunter -ohjelmaa esitettiin myös Ison Britannian televisiossa.

MAAILMAN TUNNETUIN AUSTRALIALAINEN

Vuonna 1998 oli vuorossa ohjelma maailman vaarallisimmista käärmeistä. Krokotiilinmetsästäjän suosio oli huippulukemissa. Hänestä oli nopeasti tulossa tunnetuin australialainen maailmalla. Crocodile Hunteria esitettiin jo 137 maassa 500 miljoonalle katsojalle. Samaan aikaan Irwin laajensi Australia Zoo -eläintarhaansa, johti luonnonsuojelusäätiöitään Wildlife Warriorsia ja International Crocodile Rescueta sekä suunnitteli eläintarhojen avaamista muihin kohteisiin, mm. Las Vegasiin Nevadassa.

Krokotiilinmetsästäjä filmasi elokuvan, joka sai nimekseen Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (Krokotiilinmetsästäjä törmäyskurssilla). Elokuvassa Irwin esittelee tutuksi tulleita eläintenkäsittelyotteitaan ja jahtaa salametsästäjiä vaimonsa Terri Irwinin kanssa. Eläinten oikeutta omaan ympäristöönsä painottava elokuva on suunnattu lapsille ja lapsenmielisille. Tapahtumat etenevät selkeäviivaisella seikkailuperiaatteella. Välillä krokotiilinmetsästäjä puhuttelee katsojiaan valistaen kulloiseenkin juonenkäänteeseen liittyvistä eläintieteellisistä tai luonnonsuojelullisista seikoista.

DOKUMENTARISTI KUOLI TYÖNSÄ ÄÄRELLÄ

Steve Irwinin viimeiseksi esiintymiseksi fiktiivisessä elokuvassa jäi Happy Feet -animaation etelänmerinorsu Trevin äänenä toimiminen. Sydneystä kotoisin olevan George Millerin ohjaama lastenelokuva on omistettu edesmenneelle Krokotiilinmetsästäjälle.

Australiaa ja koko maailmaa järkyttänyt uutinen Steve Irwinin kuolemasta saapui 4. syyskuuta 2006. Irwin filmasi meridokumenttia Ocean’s Deadliest (Valtamerten vaarallisimmat) Suurilla koralliriutoilla, kun myrkyllinen piikkirausku iski yläpuolellaan uinutta dokumentaristia rintaan. Eläimen piikki lävisti sydämen. Silminnäkijöiden mukaan Irwin ehti vetää sen rinnastaan ennen kuin menetti tajuntansa. Todennäköinen kuolinsyy oli piston ja myrkyn aiheuttama sydänpysähdys.

KIISTELTY KANSALLISSANKARI

Kuolinuutinen aiheutti Australiassa kansallisen surun. Pääministeri John Howardin mukaan Australia “menetti hienon ja värikkään pojan”. Queenslandin osavaltion kuvernööri Peter Beattie sanoi Irwinin olleen paitsi suuri queenslandilainen myös suuri australialainen. Kaikki mediat olivat täynnä uutista. Sanoma- ja aikakauslehdet julkaisivat kymmenien sivujen mittaisia värikuvaliitteitä Irwinin elämän vaiheista. Radio-ohjelmiin tulvi soittoja tavallisilta surun valtaamilta australialaisilta. Australia Zoon portille tuotu kukka- ja korttivuori veti vertoja Prinsessa Dianan vastaavalle yhdeksän vuotta aiemmin.

Soraääniäkin kuului. Joidenkin mielestä Irwinin luonnonsuojelutyö oli ollut lähinnä kosmeettista. Kriitikkojen mukaan hän oli pannut turismin edistämisen luonnonsuojelun edelle. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -järjestön puheenjohtaja Dan Matthews syytti Irwiniä pelokkaiden eläinten kiusaamisesta ja huonon esimerkin antamisesta lapsille. Jacques Cousteaun pojan, Jean-Michel Cousteaun, mielestä Krokotiilinmetsästäjän asenne luontoa kohtaan oli väärä. “Luontokappaleita saa katsella, muttei koskettaa”, hän julisti. Epätoivoisimman hyökkäyksen Irwinin elämäntyötä kohtaan teki Lontoossa maanpaossa asuva australialainen feministi Germaine Greer. Hänen mukaansa Irwin ansaitsi kuolla eläimen tappamana, koska oli niin usein huutanut niiden herkkien korvien juuressa televisio-ohjelmissaan.

ISÄ OLI SANKARI

Irwin haudattiin yksityisin menoin Caloudraan Queenslandiin 9. syyskuuta. Perikunta kieltäytyi kuvernööri Beattien ehdottamista valtiollisista hautajaisista. Kansallissankari olisi halunnut tulla muistetuksi “tavallisena kaverina”.

Yleisöä ja televisiota varten järjestettiin kuitenkin muistotilaisuus Australia Zoon 5500-paikkaisella areenalla. Australialaiset tv-kanavat Seven, Nine sekä valtiollinen ABC näyttivät muistotilaisuuden suorana lähetyksenä ilman mainoksia. Hautajaistilaisuus lähetettiin livenä myös mm. Yhdysvaltoihin.

Hautajaisten koskettavin ohjelmanumero oli Irwinien kahdeksanvuotiaan tyttären Bindin isälleen lukema itse kirjoittamansa muistopuhe. Puheessaan Bindi sanoi isän olleen sankarinsa ja lupasi jatkaa tämän työtä eläinten puolesta.

Kuva: Bindi Irwin lukee muistopuhetta isälleen.

Bindin tähdittämän 26-osaisen lasten luonto-ohjelman Bindi the Jungle Girl kuvaukset Discovery Kids -kanavalle alkoivat ennen Irwinin poismenoa. Projekti on kuoleman johdosta pantu jäihin ainakin vuodeksi.

Urheimmankin pikkutytön täytyy saada surra.

Steve Irwin interviewed by Andrew Denton on Enough Rope

Here is the Schedule

Everyday I wake up, thinking, hoping this is just a bad dream. But it's not. And if his death is affecting me, a complete stranger, this much, I cannot imagine how his family is feeling right now. He leaves behind his wife and two kids (8 years and 2 1/2 years).

R.I.P. Steve Irwin (1962 - 2006)
We will miss you.