Stephen Robert Irwin (February 22, 1962 – September 4, 2006), known
simply as Steve Irwin and nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an
Australian wildlife expert and television personality. He achieved
world-wide fame from the television program The Crocodile Hunter,
an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series co-hosted
with his wife Terri Irwin. Together with her, he also co-owned and
operated Australia Zoo, founded by his parents in Beerwah,
Queensland.
Irwin was a passionate conservationist and believed in promoting
environmentalism by sharing his excitement about the natural world
rather than preaching to people. He was concerned with conservation
of endangered animals and land clearing leading to loss of habitat.
He considered conservation to be the most important part of his
work: "I consider myself a wildlife warrior. My mission is to save
the world's endangered species." Irwin bought "large tracts of
land" in Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the United States, which he
described as "like national parks" and stressed the importance of
people realising that they could each make a difference.
He had urged people to take part in considerate tourism and not
support illegal poaching through the purchase of items such as
turtle shells or shark-fin soup.
He founded the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, which was
later renamed Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, and became an
independent charity. He was described after his death by the CEO of
RSPCA Queensland as a "modern-day Noah", and British naturalist
David Bellamy lauded his skills as a natural historian and media
performer. Irwin and his father discovered a new species of turtle
that now bears his name, Elseya irwini — Irwin's Turtle — a species
of turtle found on the coast of Queensland.
He also helped to found a number of other projects, such as the
International Crocodile Rescue, as well as the Lyn Irwin Memorial
Fund, in memory of his mother (who was in a fatal car crash in
2000), with proceeds going to the Iron Bark Station Wildlife
Rehabilitation Centre.
Steve Irwin Trivia: Irwin loved mixed martial arts competitions
and trained with Greg Jackson in the fighting/grappling system of
Gaidojutsu.
*CACHE INFO*
I made this cache as a tribute to the life and work of Steve Irwin.
I believe it will be years before we truly understand and
appreciate all the work this man did towards wildlife conservation.
I did notice signs of hunting in this area so please use caution
during hunting season.
The cache is located at A.L. Happel Memorial Field. There is
parking available at N39 43.856 W77 28.591. From here there is a
trailhead at N39 43.840 W77 28.613 but as soon as you get on look
for a deer trail as it leads (indirectly) right to the cache.
27 APR 08: Changed terrain rating to 3.5 as I recieved some E-Mails
stating that during the rain season its a real swamp!