Steve Irwin Dies at age 44, A sad day in the herping world..

[Ssthisto]

You know, I'm sure I've seen a show with Cousteau 'doing' the African Veldt.

So what is an oceanographer doing in the middle of a savannah? He had no business being there, he could have been killed, it wasn't his main profession!

To be honest, I take exception to Cousteau's assertion that "You don't touch nature, you observe it."

People need to touch things to believe in them, to care about them. When a little kid asks 'Can I see it' they mean "can I hold it, can I feel it, can I make sure it really is real?" Seeing Steve Irwin pick up those snakes - all the time saying 'this is dangerous, I wouldn't do this if I didn't know what I was doing, but this snake does not WANT to harm me - see what a wonderful creature it is?' is as close as some kids will EVER get to touching a snake.

I did an educational day with some of my reptiles this summer, for four classes composing about a hundred eight-to-eleven-year-olds. We asked them at the beginning of the class what they thought of reptiles - lizards, snakes, all of it. Many of them expressed nervousness and disgust. Reptiles are slimy, reptiles want to bite me, reptiles are icky, reptiles are dangerous.

Then we brought out four leopard geckos, carefully chosen from our group for their even-tempered natures and the differences in colour - and let kids pet and hold them. We followed that with a pair of fat-tailed geckos who, if anything, are even nicer out of their enclosure than the leos. By this time, EVERYONE has touched a lizard. And they're amazed - they're pretty warm, they're soft, they're gentle, they lick fingers and have puppy-dog tongues, they flop down into people's palms - they aren't monsters at all!

Now, the snakes are a little different. Jasper, my yearling normal corn, is pretty colours, sure - and these kids do pet him - even the ones who said they would never touch a snake at the beginning. He's not quite as 'charismatic' as the geckos - but then, I'm biased, since I love the gecks to bits. Why are kids who are 'frightened' of snakes touching him? Because they've seen that reptiles aren't all that bad by handling them already. Siren, our Leucy Texas rat, wasn't passed around because I'd already figured that if ANY animal we had was going to bite, it would be her - and so if anyone got bit, it was going to be me. But they thought she was BEAUTIFUL. Not just 'OK' but pretty. And, as it turned out, she was on her best behaviour anyway and didn't even threaten to bite. Next year, folks might get to pet her, though I'm still going to keep the 'business end' away from the kids.

Iris, my Colombian rainbow boa, was even more loved - she feels totally different to a corn, we could demonstrate the iridescence in the sun, and she's considerably more placid, even though she's not very old. I can't wait until she's five+ feet long and we do another display day...

And our 'finale' was Domino, our subadult Argentine B&W Tegu. EVERYONE loved her and wanted to pet her after meeting the other animals, no matter how big and scary she might have looked at the beginning of the class.

After each class we inevitably got approached by half a dozen kids wanting to know more about keeping X or where they might find Y ... and that's from twenty-five each class who didn't like reptiles to start.

Humans are tactile. It's one thing to see an animal on TV, or behind glass in a zoo ... and another thing entirely to have it in the room with you and to be able to pet and hold it. Steve touched nature, and in doing so, got more young people interested in conservation than any 'nice to look at, but hands off' approach could.

 

[Vinman]

yea the zoo he owns it is call reinvesting in your bunisess

 

[Ssthisto]

You know he's bought land in Africa, Asia and the US as well, right? How in heck is that expanding his zoo?

 

[Vinman]

You know he's bought land in Africa, Asia and the US as well, right? How in heck is that expanding his zoo?

no I did not know that and what did he do with the land ? was it donated to any conservation groups. please inform me.

 

[SnakeAround]

no I did not know that and what did he do with the land ? was it donated to any conservation groups. please inform me.

Ah, so you are judging a man strongly, you know only half about....

He OWNS major pieces of land, where animals just live their happy, safe lives. He visists them for his program now and then, so he can educate people... Like his koala forest with thousands of koala's to maintain the species.... I felt touched when he showed them, cause I could feel the love and RESPECT he feels for them.... I think even animals feel it, cause lots of them are way more placid then expected in the wild when he comes close to them. I saw him in a conservational jungle (not his) high up in a tree with a female urang utan with her baby, she actually went over to him to show her baby and trusted him to pet her baby.... of course she was used to people, but these animals are way aggressive defending their baby's and she did not know him.... Steve was almost in tears because of this beautifull event...

And of course he does expand his zoo, it is easier to have some animals around to show to people, don't you think? Of course you can take all these visitors into the wild jungle with you and risk them being bitten and stuff..... that would be better, right?

 

[Ssthisto]

no I did not know that and what did he do with the land ? was it donated to any conservation groups. please inform me.

To my understanding, the land belongs to a conservation group - Wildlife Warriors Worldwide. He also donated financial support to various conservation groups - tiger and elephant sanctuaries in Asia, among others.

90,000 acres of land... that's not enough, but it's a fair chunk of land.

 

[SnakeAround]

To my understanding, the land belongs to a conservation group - Wildlife Warriors Worldwide. He also donated financial support to various conservation groups - tiger and elephant sanctuaries in Asia, among others.

90,000 acres of land... that's not enough, but it's a fair chunk of land.

I think that conservation group is started by Steve; he called himself a wildlife warrior, hence the name. So in way the land is his.

 

[Vinman]

then I give credit where like credit is do like I said before I'm sure he donated some money . By the way is a tax right off dont forget steve made millions of dollars I'm sure thAt he got verry rich off his shows

 

[zwyatt]

This is ridiculous. Is this discussion really still going?

Flawed logic, opinionated statements (passed on as fact), oops one or two out-of-context truths, more opinions, inapplicable suggestions, etc

There just isn't time in the day to go back and quote all the things that I have issues with and address them separately.


Caution: The following are my opinions of Vinman's comments about Steve Irwin's lifestyle/etc.

He got greedy....He did these shows for the money and fame....the bottom line is rattings and money....So bottom line he got greedy and paid the price....By the way is a tax right off dont forget steve made millions of dollars I'm sure thAt he got verry rich off his shows

I can't imagine what a day in Vinman's world must be like. A place where Steve Irwin is a rich superstar keeping up with the latest trends, living lavishly in a big house, driving fast cars, doing whatever it takes to help the bottom line just to line his pockets with a few more dollars...

Yes, Steve Irwin doing a documentary was greedy (that was a sarcastic comment). Give me a break. Yeah, I bet he stood to make millions or become a celebrity from shooting that film. Greed has nothing to do with it. To even say "he
got greedy" is so off-base and inapplicable it doesn't even warrant further discussion.

There is a right and a wrong way to intereact with wildlife.

Who says? Are you the resident expert? I've seen many stories of experienced trainers/keepers of various animls who get killed or mauled because animals are animals. You may think you know them, but they are still just instinctual beings. There's no manual.


What does your experience volunteering have to do with anything? Just because you experience something or do something one way that makes it the right way?

The old saying Do what say dont do what I do. It just dont cut it.

And neither does your lackluster grammar and speech. There how does that help the Steve Irwin debate? That's a personal observation of mine. Since I've observed it and it's my opinion it must be relevant to this discussion.

I can be as sarcastic all I want ,it wont prove a point.

No it won't prove a point. You can't prove a point, because there is no point to prove. Your "argument" has no leg to stand on. All you have is a simple opinion. What you are saying is your personal opinion about something. I don't care how dramatically and tastelessly you state your thoughts, it's not going to change anything and it certainly won't prove any point to anyone. I don't know what your agenda is with this, but it seems awfully petty and inconsequential.

 

[SnakeAround]

I'm sure he donated some money.

CAN'T YOU READ?! He fu**ing OWNS more land for conservational purposes than you will ever see with your narrow sighted view :bang:

Sorry, I promised myself to stop trying, but I just can't....

 

[attackturtle]

No it won't prove a point. You can't prove a point, because there is no point to prove. Your "argument" has no leg to stand on. All you have is a simple opinion. What you are saying is your personal opinion about something. I don't care how dramatically and tastelessly you state your thoughts, it's not going to change anything and it certainly won't prove any point to anyone. I don't know what your agenda is with this, but it seems awfully petty and inconsequential.

He is not trying to prove a point and I don't think it is opinion he is sharing. Vinman is just showing that he lives in a world where your not famous unless you don't care about anybody else. A world where if you do something stupid that has been on tv, that it is the tv shows fault. A world where if your rich, it is not possible to care about others because to be rich means you have to be greedy and since you cant truly donate to others and be greedy at the same time, all those who are successful and rich cannot every really give or donate to those in need.

 

[Vinman]

that is where you are wrong when you earn lots of money you need tax write off . so you give to charitys. now if you want talk about some one who is giving look at pual numan . people who earn big bucks and corparations give donations and get tax brakes

 

[attackturtle]

mon point exactement

 

[Marshall_P]

Yep...

Yep, this conversation is still going, and cause it's from one individual's name starting with the letter "V"... hmmm. now who could that be?...

 

[SnakeAround]

that is where you are wrong when you earn lots of money you need tax write off . so you give to charitys. now if you want talk about some one who is giving look at pual numan . people who earn big bucks and corparations give donations and get tax brakes

I think that the tax brake would not yield enough money to make someone end up richer then when not donating..... they still have to pay tax on the money and do not get back 100% of the donated money :shrugs:

Example;

earn 1000 euro, tax = 400; in the pocket = 600

earn 1000, donate 500;

-500 - tax 400 (still tax over 1000) = 100 in the pocket (500 less then 600 above). I do not believe government is gonna return more then 500 because I donated 500 so I won't end up richer then not donating.

Another example, just to test this....

Earning 5000, - tax 2500 = 2500 in the pocket

Donating 1000:

4000 - tax 2500 = 1500 in the pocket. Government won't return more then 1000 to me I suppose....

I think people forget that taxes are stilll based on the total amount of money earned.... you only get back the difference in percentage of taxes between income and donation tax. I don't believe the donated part is not subjected to taxes, but still yields refund form tax brakes....

Or do I miss a thing about taxes? Men, if this works, I'm gonna donate until I'm very rich! The government as a money multiplier!!!!!!

 

[Vinman]

I think that the tax brake would not yield enough money to make someone end up richer then when not donating..... they still have to pay tax on the money and do not get back 100% of the donated money :shrugs:

Example;

earn 1000 euro, tax = 400; in the pocket = 600

earn 1000, donate 500;

-500 - tax 400 (still tax over 1000) = 100 in the pocket (500 less then 600 above). I do not believe government is gonna return more then 500 because I donated 500 so I won't end up richer then not donating.

Another example, just to test this....

Earning 5000, - tax 2500 = 2500 in the pocket

Donating 1000:

4000 - tax 2500 = 1500 in the pocket. Government won't return more then 1000 to me I suppose....

I think people forget that taxes are stilll based on the total amount of money earned.... you only get back the difference in percentage of taxes between income and donation tax. I don't believe the donated part is not subjected to taxes, but still yields refund form tax brakes....

Or do I miss a thing about taxes? Men, if this works, I'm gonna donate until I'm very rich! The government as a money multiplier!!!!!!

you dont know anything about money talk to a account remember you have know ieda how much he make pre year and royaltes on all the rerun's times in all the countrys his show airs. your talking you are talking about 5000 a year you must collect from a goverment to live. In this country we call it wellfare. listen sister this guy had to be making close to a millon a year if not more.

 

[UKCryptid]

The guy made money from the job he loved doing, and???

 

[zwyatt]

THIS IS THE MOST BALLA THREAD EVAH!!!

 

[zwyatt]

BYAHHH!!!

 

[Vinman]

The guy made money from the job he loved doing, and???

it is the greatist thing inthe world to have a job doing what you love that is not the point . we were talking about donating money and tax breaks