TRAILBLAZER
STEVE IRWIN
MADE THE ENVIRONMENT ENTERTAINING
Name : Steve Irwin ( 1962 - 2006 ) Job Title : Australian environmentalist Company : Australia Zoo
It ’ s been 15 years since Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray while snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef . The khaki-clad Aussie icon is an unlikely business legend — but the Crocodile Hunter was posthumously inducted into The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame for his conservation efforts , support of quarantine and popularising Australian tourism to the world .
Steve Irwin was born in Melbourne , in 1962 , to wildlife enthusiasts Bob and Lyn Irwin .
In 1970 , the Irwin family opened the Beerwah Reptile Park , now called the Australia Zoo . Steve spent his childhood feeding the animals and eventually became the owner . In 1991 , 27-year-old Terri Raines visited Australia Zoo on holiday and met Steve at a crocodile show . He devastated Terri by inviting her to meet his girlfriend , which turned out to be his dog , Suey . The pair became engaged just months later and went to film crocodiles on their honeymoon .
Irwin made over 100 documentaries , which have been broadcast in 142 countries and viewed by a global audience of 500mn .
Animal populations have declined by an astonishing 60 % since 1970
16 September 2021