12/05/2007
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin to Fight Whaling Posthumously
A ship owned by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been renamed in honor of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin and will be used in what the group is calling "Operation Migaloo", an effort to fight illegal whaling.
The group writes: "The objective of Operation Migaloo is to intervene against illegal whaling actions by the Japanese whaling fleet. The Japanese whalers are targeting endangered humpbacks and fin whales along with 935 piked whales in the Southern Oceans Whale Sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on commercial whaling and they will be killing many of these whales in the Australian Antarctic Territory. 'Steve Irwin's life demonstrated how one person can make a significant difference in the world,' said Watson. 'Steve wanted to come to Antarctica with us to defend the whales and now he will be joining us in spirit with his name emblazoned on the fastest and most powerful whale protection ship in the world.'"
Irwin's wife Terri christened the vessel:
Related...
Steve Irwin Killed by "The Ocean's Deadliest" [tr]
Posted 10:20 AM EST by Andy in Australia, Nature, News | Permalink
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OK, I can't stand it any longer. This is a man who made a career barging into animal habitats and taunting animals for profit. The fact that he's being remade in death as a conservationist is nothing more than fancy marketing. Even the name "Crocodile Hunter" shows his true colors. Not impressed.
Posted by: SRB | Dec 5, 2007 10:41:11 AM
@SRB
I COMPLETELY agree. I will admit that at times Steve Irwin probably did positive things for animals and the environment, but his TV show was proof that he wasn't in it to help them.
He was an adrenaline junkie that got his kicks off of torturing animals. Then he found a way to make money off of it by branding himself a conservationist. Not someone that I would call an animal lover.
However, I'm happy that at least this will probably bring some media attention to the illegal whale slaughter. Hopefully people who give a damn will see or hear something they don't like and some innocent living creatures will be spared a brutal death. Hopefully.
Posted by: Taylor | Dec 5, 2007 11:01:44 AM
Did anyone see the Best Week Ever this past weekend?
"Last time I checked it was animals 1; Irwins 0..."
I was doubled over laughing.
Posted by: RP | Dec 5, 2007 11:14:34 AM
No matter what one thinks about Irwin, the Japanese are disgusting for continuing to kill whales while lying abou doing it only for "research".
Posted by: Rey | Dec 5, 2007 11:15:04 AM
We can only hope that the boat will be sunk by angry whales.
I could not STAND the guy for every reason listed here. He was nothing but a showboat, and now [for as much as they are whining they are not] exploiting his daughter in the same environment. I am sure THAT drama will come to a head in a year or so.
Posted by: Rad | Dec 5, 2007 11:34:16 AM
@Rey
Yeah, what is with Japan!?!
I mean I really think the country is a pretty cool place, and wanted to visit it at some point in my life.
No more though. Their disgusting habit of animal abuse sickens me. They slaughter dolphins for crying out loud! Who in their right mind could look at a dolphin and think "mmm, I want to kill that and eat it".
Sometimes I'm pretty glad I'm a vegan...
Posted by: Taylor | Dec 5, 2007 12:25:43 PM
The Japanese have basically no environmental consciousness and still consider themselves vulnerable to starvation.
Actually, my complaint about Irwin was that a lot of what he showed was faked. He was almost never in as much danger as he claimed and by using two cameras and other tricks, made it always seem much more dangerous and exciting than it really was. A lot of the snakes he caught, for example, were not as poisonous as he claimed or were not as aggressive. However, a lot of nature documentaries have "staged" scenes where predator and prey are "brought" together (snake and mouse or whatever) for the big filmed showdown, or the use of special lenses makes it seem like a person is standing close to an animal when they are quite far apart. You'd be surprised how much filming is done at zoos.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Dec 5, 2007 12:40:38 PM
For more on how "nature documentaries" are staged, do a Google search on "lemmings" and "Disney".
I now know that lemmings will not follow one another over a cliff despite the common belief. And I cannot look at the lazy susan in my kitchen without thinking of poor lemmings being flung to their death again.
Posted by: Rey | Dec 5, 2007 1:55:21 PM
People here who suggest Steve Irwin didn't love animals and did it all for publicity and money are nuts. There's no doubting the man deliberately provoked animals (and paid for it with his life) but his love for them and commitment to conservation are unquestioned. Do you really think Paul Watson would put Irwin's name on his flagship if the man was an animal hater/killer?
Posted by: Jonathan | Dec 29, 2007 6:39:44 PM