Australia's 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin Lives On Through His Legacy

The Australia Zoo in Queensland stands as the grand legacy of Steve Irwin, drawing visitors from around the globe. His signature exclamation, "Crikey!" – used upon encountering crocodiles, snakes, spiders, or anything with teeth, venom, or a bad mood – perfectly captured Irwin's effervescent energy. Two decades after his untimely death at 44, "Crikey!" remains as inseparable from Irwin as his khaki shirt. Visitors to the world-renowned Australia Zoo, located near Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, are greeted by this iconic phrase in large letters at the entrance, flanked by life-sized portraits of the blond TV personality.

Irwin's world was one where he came incredibly close to crocodiles, often with his head nearly in their jaws, yet his enthusiasm inspired millions to connect with wildlife. It quickly becomes clear that Irwin's legacy thrives – in his zoo, vast conservation areas, and most importantly, through his family, who continue his mission and have themselves become internationally recognized figures.

Steve Irwin's death on September 4, 2006, was as spectacular as his life. It was not a result of a fight with a crocodile, a snakebite, or one of his daring stunts. Instead, a stingray became his undoing. While snorkeling off the coast of Queensland for a documentary on marine animals, a short-tail stingray's barb pierced his chest, fatally injuring his heart. This incident, in a way, mirrored the life he led: always close to animals, always close to danger.

His fascination with reptiles began in childhood; he caught his first venomous snake at age six and helped capture problem crocodiles by nine. As a young man, he spent months in remote northern Australia capturing crocodiles for a government relocation program, developing capture and management methods still in use today. His parents, Bob and Lyn Irwin, founded a small reptile park in Beerwah in 1970. Steve took over management in 1991. Shortly after, he met Terri Raines, an animal lover from Oregon. They married in 1992, spending their honeymoon not on a beach, but relocating a problem crocodile. This experience led to the filming of the documentary that became "The Crocodile Hunter," launching Irwin to global superstardom. Fearlessly, he ran through bush and swamp, jumped on crocodiles, and held snakes up to the camera.