Steve Irwin's Death Sparks Bout of Stingray Mutilations - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jenya · 09-12-2006, 11:11 PM

Irwin's Death Sparks bout of Stingray Mutilations

Paul Lewis
Wednesday September 13, 2006

Guardian Unlimited

he natural injustice of the death of Steve Irwin, the daredevil conservationist who wrestled with crocodiles and dangled cobras but was killed by a relatively docile fish, has apparently motivated some of his most ardent supporters to wreak revenge.

Eight days after the documentary maker was killed in a freak encounter with a stingray while snorkelling off the north Queensland coast, and while his native Australians continue to mourn him, the authorities are investigating the possibility that the species that took Irwin's life is being targeted in acts of retribution.

Up to 10 apparently mutilated stingrays have washed up in coastal waters since his death, prompting Queensland state officials to call on fans of the self-styled "wildlife warrior Australian bloke" not to retaliate against the species that killed their hero.

Two stingrays - typically placid creatures - were found dead yesterday with their tails sliced off at Deception Bay, north of Brisbane, adding to the toll of eight already discovered since Irwin's death in waters further north.

The actual stingray which delivered the fatal blow to Irwin as he swam in shallow waters with a cameraman to film "stuff on the reef and little animals" for a programme featuring his eight-year-old daughter could, of course, still be alive.

"We do find dead stingrays with their tails cut off from time to time. People usually do it if they are worried about getting stung by a stingray, or they just do it maliciously, but it is pretty rare," said Wayne Sumpton, a senior biologist in Queensland's fisheries department.

"We do not know if these incidents are motivated by Steve Irwin's death. At the moment that is just speculation."

Conservationists who worked with the documentary maker have been swift to condemn any form of retaliation against the animal kingdom for his death, pointing out that cutting the tails off normally placid fish conflicts with Irwin's conservationist beliefs.

Killing stingrays, said Michael Hornby, executive director of Irwin's conservation group Wildlife Warriors, is "not what Steve was about".

"We are disgusted and disappointed that people would take this sort of action to hurt wildlife," he said. "It may be some sort of retribution, or it may be fear from certain individuals, or it just may be yet another callous act toward wildlife."

Irwin died after the serrated barb of a stringray penetrated his heart. Although the venom embedded in the tail spines of stingrays can kill small creatures and cause acute pain to humans, it is extremely rare for the shy fish to kill humans.

It is thought the stingray that killed Irwin struck its tail with a reflex powerful enough to puncture a hole in the 44-year-old's chest in what is said to have been only the third recorded fatal stingray attack in Australia.

Irwin's family and friends held a private funeral around a campfire at his Australia Zoo at the weekend. A public memorial service will be held today.

Jenya · 09-12-2006, 11:13 PM

This reminds me of the movie JAWS. Kill any shark except for the one that caused the actual attacks.

sara · 09-13-2006, 12:13 AM

Steve Irwin would be horrified by this.

ABlairican Pie · 09-13-2006, 12:34 AM

This is pathetic that anyone would blame and target any species of animal for the death of a famous person who knew the risks of working with such animals. If Steve Irwin were known as Badger Hunter, and a badger tangled with him and killed him, would it be open season on badgers?

Jenya · 09-13-2006, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

This is pathetic that anyone would blame and target any species of animal for the death of a famous person who knew the risks of working with such animals. If Steve Irwin were known as Badger Hunter, and a badger tangled with him and killed him, would it be open season on badgers?

Good thing a Canadian baby seal didn't attack him.

Karen* · 09-13-2006, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara

Steve Irwin would be horrified by this.

I agree. That's ****ed up.

Jo_Luvs_Ketchup · 09-13-2006, 04:11 AM

This is sad, so sad. He spent his life dedicating himself to animals. He wouldn't want this to happen.

Tweety · 09-13-2006, 05:19 AM

'dem Aussies sure take that Croc Huntin' stuff seriously

"This is for you, Steve"...<slices off tail>

Sharop · 09-13-2006, 05:38 AM

Since Steve clearly loved wildlife, I'm sure he wouldn't want anyone to kill them in "revenge" for his death.

If this is being perpetrated by some fans of his, then you'd think they'd have realised that.

On a slightly unrelated note, after seeing Germaine Greer's insensitive comments, I'd like Steve to come back as a ghost and shove a pie in her face.

ponytail · 09-13-2006, 06:56 AM

That is just so stupid! Sometimes I just can't believe what people do.

MsOrange · 09-13-2006, 01:34 PM

i wonder if people would be acting like this if he was killed by a crocodile?

80sTrivia · 09-13-2006, 02:49 PM

If Steve were alive, he would be aghast at this... he loved animals and dedicated his entire life to protecting them, no matter how dangerous. He definitely would not want people killing any animal out of retribution, and certainly not the animal that accidentally killed him...

spunkygirl · 09-13-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sara

Steve Irwin would be horrified by this.

He so would be, I know I am ashamed and horrified by this

Stormtracker TF · 09-13-2006, 03:32 PM

Thats wrong. Steve would be ashamed by this.

Tuesday Weld · 09-14-2006, 09:37 PM

That's sad. Steve certainly would not be impressed with this.

09-12-2006, 11:11 PM	#1
Jenya Supervisor Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: Canmore, Alberta Posts: 3,359	Steve Irwin's Death Sparks Bout of Stingray Mutilations Irwin's Death Sparks bout of Stingray Mutilations Paul Lewis Wednesday September 13, 2006 Guardian Unlimited he natural injustice of the death of Steve Irwin, the daredevil conservationist who wrestled with crocodiles and dangled cobras but was killed by a relatively docile fish, has apparently motivated some of his most ardent supporters to wreak revenge. Eight days after the documentary maker was killed in a freak encounter with a stingray while snorkelling off the north Queensland coast, and while his native Australians continue to mourn him, the authorities are investigating the possibility that the species that took Irwin's life is being targeted in acts of retribution. Up to 10 apparently mutilated stingrays have washed up in coastal waters since his death, prompting Queensland state officials to call on fans of the self-styled "wildlife warrior Australian bloke" not to retaliate against the species that killed their hero. Two stingrays - typically placid creatures - were found dead yesterday with their tails sliced off at Deception Bay, north of Brisbane, adding to the toll of eight already discovered since Irwin's death in waters further north. The actual stingray which delivered the fatal blow to Irwin as he swam in shallow waters with a cameraman to film "stuff on the reef and little animals" for a programme featuring his eight-year-old daughter could, of course, still be alive. "We do find dead stingrays with their tails cut off from time to time. People usually do it if they are worried about getting stung by a stingray, or they just do it maliciously, but it is pretty rare," said Wayne Sumpton, a senior biologist in Queensland's fisheries department. "We do not know if these incidents are motivated by Steve Irwin's death. At the moment that is just speculation." Conservationists who worked with the documentary maker have been swift to condemn any form of retaliation against the animal kingdom for his death, pointing out that cutting the tails off normally placid fish conflicts with Irwin's conservationist beliefs. Killing stingrays, said Michael Hornby, executive director of Irwin's conservation group Wildlife Warriors, is "not what Steve was about". "We are disgusted and disappointed that people would take this sort of action to hurt wildlife," he said. "It may be some sort of retribution, or it may be fear from certain individuals, or it just may be yet another callous act toward wildlife." Irwin died after the serrated barb of a stringray penetrated his heart. Although the venom embedded in the tail spines of stingrays can kill small creatures and cause acute pain to humans, it is extremely rare for the shy fish to kill humans. It is thought the stingray that killed Irwin struck its tail with a reflex powerful enough to puncture a hole in the 44-year-old's chest in what is said to have been only the third recorded fatal stingray attack in Australia. Irwin's family and friends held a private funeral around a campfire at his Australia Zoo at the weekend. A public memorial service will be held today.
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09-13-2006, 12:13 AM	#3
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	Steve Irwin would be horrified by this.
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09-13-2006, 12:34 AM	#4
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	This is pathetic that anyone would blame and target any species of animal for the death of a famous person who knew the risks of working with such animals. If Steve Irwin were known as Badger Hunter, and a badger tangled with him and killed him, would it be open season on badgers?
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09-13-2006, 05:38 AM	#9
Sharop Andy Gibb aged 12 Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 03, 2004 Location: Courthouse Square, Hill Valley, beside the clocktower, 10:04 p.m., November 12th 1955 Posts: 3,912	Since Steve clearly loved wildlife, I'm sure he wouldn't want anyone to kill them in "revenge" for his death. If this is being perpetrated by some fans of his, then you'd think they'd have realised that. On a slightly unrelated note, after seeing Germaine Greer's insensitive comments, I'd like Steve to come back as a ghost and shove a pie in her face.
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09-13-2006, 02:49 PM	#12
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	If Steve were alive, he would be aghast at this... he loved animals and dedicated his entire life to protecting them, no matter how dangerous. He definitely would not want people killing any animal out of retribution, and certainly not the animal that accidentally killed him...
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09-12-2006, 11:13 PM	#2
Jenya Supervisor Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: Canmore, Alberta Posts: 3,359	This reminds me of the movie JAWS. Kill any shark except for the one that caused the actual attacks.

09-13-2006, 04:11 AM	#7
Jo_Luvs_Ketchup Member Eternal Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2003 Posts: 4,195	This is sad, so sad. He spent his life dedicating himself to animals. He wouldn't want this to happen.

09-13-2006, 05:19 AM	#8
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	'dem Aussies sure take that Croc Huntin' stuff seriously "This is for you, Steve"...<slices off tail>

09-13-2006, 06:56 AM	#10
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	That is just so stupid! Sometimes I just can't believe what people do.

09-13-2006, 01:34 PM	#11
MsOrange Bringin' Sexy Back Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 6,133	i wonder if people would be acting like this if he was killed by a crocodile?

09-13-2006, 03:32 PM	#14
Stormtracker TF Happy Easter! Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 102,598	Thats wrong. Steve would be ashamed by this.

09-14-2006, 09:37 PM	#15
Tuesday Weld I missed you all. hugs Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 02, 2003 Location: Having a great time. Posts: 22,285	That's sad. Steve certainly would not be impressed with this.
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