He Was The Best Zookeeper
Steve Irwin was famous for wrestling crocodiles, handling snakes, and educating the world on different animals. Yet despite his global recognition, few people know these zany facts about the world's favorite zookeeper.
1. His Parents Loved Dangerous Animals
Steve Irwin entered the animal kingdom on February 22, 1962, in Melbourne's leafy suburbs—and he was practically into the jungle. His mother, Lyn, rehabilitated wildlife while his father, Bob, collected venomous reptiles as a plumber-turned-herpetologist. But Irwin would take his parents' passion to extremes.
2. He Smuggled Snakes Onto Buses
Irwin was a thrill-seeker from the beginning. He ignored his father's warnings about venomous reptiles, hunting them with reckless abandon. Once, he stashed a red-bellied black snake in a bus driver's cooler for the ride home. The other passengers had no idea they were sharing their commute with one of Australia's most dangerous serpents.
His sixth birthday brought his own slithering surprise.
3. He Got A Pet Python
While other kids unwrapped toy cars and dolls on their birthdays, Irwin's parents gave him a different kind of present. For his sixth birthday, little Irwin received a 12-foot scrub python. And that was just the first in his animal kingdom. That same year, he caught his first venomous snake and regularly had his mother pull over so that he could save lizards from getting run over.
Soon his backyard would become a zoo.
heosemys (Bill Hughes), Wikimedia Commons
4. His Family Relocated To Queensland
In 1970, eight-year-old Irwin traded Melbourne for Queensland's Sunshine Coast. He bounced between Landsborough State School and Caloundra State High, but classroom walls couldn't contain him. The real education happened outside, where dangerous creatures lurked in every shadow.
His father had bigger plans brewing.
Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images
5. His Dad Built A Reptile Kingdom
When Irwin was eight, his father constructed the Beerwah Reptile Park with his own hands. That means that little Irwin grew up in close proximity to crocodiles, pythons, and venomous snakes that most people only see on nature shows—or in their nightmares. But, even as a tyke, he wasn't afraid of even the most dangerous animals.
6. He Wrestled Crocodiles At Nine
Given his proximity to and evident love for dangerous animals, Irwin's father taught him reptile behavior from toddlerhood. So, by the time that Irwin was nine, he was already grappling with crocodiles. The prehistoric predator thrashed and snapped, but the boy held firm, planting the seeds of a career that would mesmerize millions.
7. He Became A Tiny Crocodile Wrangler
Even at the tender age of nine, Irwin demonstrated such a knack for wrestling crocs that he made a job of it. The future world famous zookeeper spent his days hunting problem crocodiles near boat ramps. Brave as ever, he'd leap from dinghies onto unsuspecting reptiles, wrestling them into submission while adults watched in disbelief.
Sometimes, the animals fought back harder than he expected.
Dennis Desmond, Wikimedia Commons
8. He Had A Run-In With A Roo
As good as he was at handling crocs and other animals, even Irwin had a few (read: MANY) close calls. In an incident in 1984, a kangaroo very nearly “disemboweled” Irwin with its claws. Then, four years later, a python attempted to squeeze the life out of him as it coiled around his neck. Those weren't even the most dramatic encounters.
9. He Was One Mistake Away From Lights Out
Irwin's real passion was for saltwater crocodiles. But the feeling wasn't always mutual. In an interview, Irwin recounted a run-in he had with a croc that nearly “chomped” his hand clean off. Fortunately, he lived to tell the tale—a cautionary tale. “I realise that one mistake and I could be [done for]”. Still, he couldn't ignore his calling.
10. He Inherited A Reptile Empire
On October 4, 1991, Irwin's destiny to become the most famous zookeeper of all time took a big step forward when his parents handed him the keys to their kingdom. The Beerwah Reptile Park—which he later renamed Australia Zoo—became his responsibility, his canvas for conservation. At 29, he became the king of a wild empire that would transform conservationism forever.
Kaus at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Met His Match
Just two days after inheriting an animal kingdom, Irwin met his queen: Terri Raines. Raines was an American naturalist from Oregon on a tour of Australian wildlife facilities when she stumbled into Irwin's zoo. The crocodile wrestler finally found someone whose enthusiasm for nature matched his own.
The feeling was, apparently, mutual.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers, Getty Images
12. He Was Basically An “Environmental Tarzan”
Raines didn't mince words about their first encounter. “I thought there was no one like this anywhere in the world,” she gushed. To her, Irwin wasn't just another zookeeper—he was “an environmental Tarzan, a larger-than-life superhero guy”. If Irwin was Tarzan, then Raines was his Jane—and he wouldn't let her go.
13. His Parents Gave Them Everything
Four months after their initial meeting, Irwin slipped a ring on Raines' finger smoother than lassoing a roo. The couple tied the knot in Eugene, Oregon on June 4, 1992. As a wedding gift, Bob and Lyn Irwin handed the newlyweds the ultimate wedding gift—complete control of their beloved wildlife park.
Unsurprisingly, the couple's honeymoon was anything but typical.
14. His Honeymoon Involved Crocodile Wrestling
While most couples sip cocktails on tropical beaches to celebrate their nuptials, the Irwins had a different idea. The couple swapped the honeymoon suite for the swamps of Queensland where they spent their honeymoon trapping massive crocodiles. And there was no shortage of them.
15. He Captured Over 100 Crocodiles
Queensland's East Coast Crocodile Management program was basically a one-man show: a one-man, Steve Irwin show. Working as a volunteer, Irwin wrangled more than 100 problem crocodiles from populated areas. While he relocated some to safer waters, others he moved into his family park. Either way, each capture saved both human and crocodile lives.
His techniques revolutionized the field.
Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images
16. He Invented New Capture Methods
Irwin didn't just catch crocodiles—he pioneered the safest ways to do it. Spending months in Queensland's remote wilderness, he developed capture techniques that wildlife experts the world over now use. His methods kept both handlers and crocodiles safer than ever before. But he wasn't just filming training guides.
17. His Honeymoon Became Television Gold
Throughout his crocodile-catching honeymoon adventure, Irwin's escapades became the subject matter for John Stainton's cameras. The raw footage of the fearless newlyweds wrestling prehistoric predators became the pilot episode of a little TV show called The Crocodile Hunter. What started as home movies would soon captivate audiences from Sydney to San Francisco.
Discovery Channel, The Crocodile Hunter (1996–2007)
18. He Conquered Two Continents
When The Crocodile Hunter premiered on Australian TVs in 1996, Irwin wrangled more than crocs—he wrangled hearts and minds. The show was an instant success, turning Irwin into an overnight celebrity. By 1997, his khaki-clad figure was bouncing across North American screens, spreading his “Crikey!” catchphrase like wildfire.
Together with his family and his audience, Irwin discovered new wonders of the natural world.
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, Wikimedia Commons
19. He Discovered A New Species
In 1997, while fishing Queensland's coast with his father, Irwin spotted an unusual turtle—one that even he didn't recognize. The creature turned out to be completely unknown to science. Herpetologist John Cann officially named it Elseya irwini—Irwin's turtle—cementing the zookeeper's name in scientific history forever.
His own home was something of a zoo.
Ian Sutton from Oberon, Australia, Wikimedia Commons
20. His House Crawled With Creatures
Along with his wife and eventual two kids, Irwin lived in a humble home…smack in the middle of his zoo! And the animals didn't exactly pay attention to doors. Jonathan (an iguana) roamed the halls of Irwin's home while ringtail possums (affectionately named Rachel and Roger) scampered overhead. Before long, another little critter would be crawling all over Irwin.
Andrew Mercer (www.baldwhiteguy.co.nz), Wikimedia Commons
21. His Daughter's Namesake Was A Crocodile
On July 24, 1998, Irwin wrangled with his favorite new critter: a 6-pound, 3-ounce bundle of joy named Bindi Sue. True to form, Irwin named the latest addition to his clan after two of his favorite creatures: Bindi, a massive saltwater crocodile, and Sui, his beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Sadly, heartbreak followed.
22. He Lost His Greatest Champion
In early 2000, Irwin faced devastating news that shattered his world. His mother, Lyn, tragically perished in a car accident. With fond memories of saving lizards together, Irwin paid tribute to his mother, calling her “the most beautiful, loving, nurturing, and caring person to have ever blessed this world”.
Whatever tragedy he faced, however, Irwin only spread joy wherever he went.
23. He Scared Eddie Murphy's Animals
In 2001, Irwin made his Hollywood debut with a cheeky cameo in Dr Dolittle 2. In his scene, an alligator frantically warns Eddie Murphy's character about the approaching notorious crocodile hunter. Irwin's appearance was so memorable for audiences that Hollywood beckoned for more. And they would get it.
20th Century Fox, Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)
24. His Movie Made Millions
Hollywood put Irwin in the spotlight in 2002's The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course. The $12 million feature film saw Irwin doing what he did best—wrestling crocs and saving wildlife. Audiences—always eager for more Irwin—gobbled it up, pushing box office receipts to $33 million.
Soon another little Irwin would join the adventure.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002)
25. His Son Honored Two Grandfathers
On December 1, 2003, the Irwin clan grew even larger when Robert Clarence Irwin entered the world weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces. The boy's name honored both of his grandfathers—Irwin's father Bob and Raine's father Clarence. The Crocodile Hunter now had his own mini-me to carry on the family's wild legacy.
But Irwin would soon make a controversial parenting choice.
26. He Almost (Sorta) Fed His Son To The Crocs
Irwin was determined to raise his kids the same way he was raised: around animals. But, in January of 2004, things took a potentially dangerous turn. Cradling one-month-old Robert in one arm, Irwin hand-fed chicken to Murray. No, not the family dog, but a 12-foot saltwater crocodile. Cameras captured the moment, and the world went ballistic.
Queensland Police Service, Wikimedia Commons
27. He Showed Audiences Another Angle
Critics compared Irwin's son-in-hand-croc-feeding scandal to Michael Jackson's infamous baby-dangling incident. Without a moment's hesitation, Irwin raced to the TV to explain himself to horrified audiences. He apologized but insisted he'd been in complete control the entire time. He even provided additional footage that showed that he was much further from the croc than initially suspected.
Still, the damage was done.
Richard Giles aka rich 115, Wikimedia Commons
28. His Stunt Changed The Law
Despite Irwin's apology and additional footage, the baby-crocodile incident did more than spark outrage—it rewrote the rulebook. Queensland's government slammed down new crocodile-handling laws faster than Murray could snap his jaws. Under the new rules, children and untrained adults were banned from entering crocodile enclosures.
At least the government recognized his other contributions.
29. He Won Government Honors
Despite the controversy, Australia couldn't ignore Irwin's impact. In 2001, the government awarded him the Centenary Medal for his “service to global conservation and to Australian tourism”. The following year, he launched Wildlife Warriors, a conservation charity that would become his lasting legacy beyond television fame.
More accolades poured in.
30. He Was Basically The Best Aussie
2004 saw Irwin crowned “Tourism Export of the Year”—no surprise given how many tourists flocked to Australia hoping to spot the khaki-clad legend wrestling with a croc. He even scored a nomination for Australian of the Year, though cricket captain Steve Waugh snagged the title. Still, not bad for a bloke who started out jumping on crocodiles at boat ramps.
31. His Daughter Got Her Own Show
In January 2006, Irwin bounced onto Jay Leno's couch with exciting news. Discovery Kids was developing a show just for his eight-year-old daughter Bindi. The proud dad beamed as he described his little girl's natural talent with animals. The series would eventually air as Bindi the Jungle Girl—but Irwin wouldn't live to see it.
Discovery Kids, Bindi the Jungle Girl (2007)
32. He Had Big Plans
By mid-2006, Irwin's star was still rising—and it was only getting brighter. Together with his wife, Irwin drafted an ambitious 10-year business plan to transform their wildlife park into a globe-spanning wild kingdom. They dreamed of new exhibits, conservation programs, and ways to inspire millions more people to protect wildlife.
Sadly, he would never see those dreams come true.
Australia Zoo Pty Ltd, Wikimedia Commons
33. He Swam Too Close To Danger
On September 4, 2006, Irwin was filming Ocean's Deadliest with Philippe Cousteau Jr in the Great Barrier Reef. But it wasn’t just a regular day in the wild for Irwin. A short-tail stingray—normally docile creatures—suddenly whipped its barb upward. Unfortunately for Irwin, the ray hit its target: him.
Discovery Channel, Ocean’s Deadliest (2007)
34. He Was Stung By A Ray
While Irwin had wrestled crocs and handled snakes, stingrays were a different animal altogether. As Irwin swam by, the stingray’s serrated spine pierced his chest, causing massive trauma that ultimately led to his demise. Irwin was just 44 years old at the time.
Shockingly, the cameras kept rolling.
35. His Final Moments Were Caught On Camera
The stingray's barb penetrated Irwin’s thoracic wall with devastating precision—all while the cameras rolled. Experts believe that Irwin’s tragic accident is the only stingray fatality ever captured on video. But it was not a video that Irwin would have wanted anyone to see.
Discovery Channel, Ocean’s Deadliest (2007)
36. His Widow Destroyed The Tapes
When Irwin drew his last breath, the devastating footage went straight to Raines, who made a heart-wrenching decision. Without ever watching the film herself, Raines destroyed the video, ensuring the world would always remember Irwin as he was: smiling, happy, enthusiastic about the natural world, and full of life.
Still, the rumors couldn’t be stopped.
37. He Didn’t Pull The Barb
Initial reports claimed Irwin had yanked the stingray’s barb from his chest—a fatal mistake. However, those who viewed the footage quickly corrected the record: those reports were wrong. The coroner revealed the barb struck the right side of his chest and abdomen, not his heart and that Irwin hadn’t pulled it out. It was the stingray’s venom, not the wound itself, that claimed his life.
Matthew Hoelscher from Doral, FL, USA, Wikimedia Commons
38. He Returned To His Kingdom
On September 9, 2006, Irwin’s closest family and friends gathered for a private funeral service. That same day, they buried him at Australia Zoo—the wildlife park he’d transformed from his father’s reptile park into a conservation empire. The boy who’d grown up wrestling crocodiles would rest forever among the animals he loved.
Millions tuned in to say goodbye.
39. He United The World In Grief
Animal Planet’s broadcast of Irwin’s memorial service on September 19, 2006 drew an astounding 360 million viewers. From Tokyo to Tennessee, people tuned in to bid farewell to the man who’d made them shout “Crikey!” at their television screens. It was obvious at that moment, Irwin wasn’t just an Australian conservationist, he was the world’s zookeeper.
40. His Memorial Packed The Crocoseum
Memorial and funeral services continued with a public service on September 30, 2006 when 5,000 people packed into Australia Zoo’s Crocoseum. But that wasn’t even a fraction of his fans. In homes across the world, more than 300 million people tuned in to watch this memorial service as it was broadcast live. The grief was almost too much to bear.
41. His Father Left The Zoo
After Irwin’s passing, the family he’d left behind began falling apart. Bob Irwin’s relationship with his daughter-in-law, Terri Raines, crumbled under grief and disagreements about the zoo’s future and Irwin’s legacy. In a devastating move, the man who’d built Beerwah Reptile Park with his bare hands resigned from Australia Zoo.
The reasons he gave were telling indeed.
42. His Father Couldn't Stay
After his resignation, Bob Irwin spoke out publicly. But what he said was just as controversial as what he didn’t say. After thanking the staff and volunteers, he conspicuously left out any mention of Raines. “I just felt that it was better for everybody concerned if I left,” he explained, adding that he had “a very different sort of opinion”.
Without Irwin, the rift in his surviving family members only deepened.
43. His Daughter Called Out Grandpa
In 2021, Bindi Irwin dropped another shocking bit of news that shook the conservation world. She publicly accused her grandfather Bob of showing “no interest” in her family and described their relationship in less than glowing terms. “He has returned gifts I've sent him after he opened them,” Bindi claimed.
Not everyone believed her story.
44. His Father Had Different Memories
Bob’s close friend and biographer Amanda French rushed to his defense, insisting that the elder Irwin “never received anything from Bindi”. If Bob could send one message to his granddaughter, French revealed, it would be simple: “You've always been welcome, and you always will be welcome”. The family that once wrestled crocodiles were now wrestling each other.
But there wasn’t much to fight over.
45. He Left Almost Nothing Behind
For all his global fame and television success, Irwin’s life insurance policy was shockingly modest—just $200,000. Raines revealed the bitter truth of life without Irwin: she didn’t even have enough to cover “half of one week's payroll” at the zoo. In fairness to Irwin, his priorities had always been the wildlife—not a wild life.
46. His Money Went To Animals
Irwin’s tiny inheritance made perfect sense to those who knew him. Every dollar he ever earned went straight back into what he loved: Australia Zoo and its wildlife inhabitants. While other celebrities stockpiled wealth, Irwin stockpiled rescued animals and rehabilitated ecosystems. His bank account stayed empty because his heart—and his zoo—stayed full.
47. He Got A Hollywood Star
Even more than a decade after his passing, Irwin was still making history. In April 2018, everyone’s favorite departed zookeeper became the first conservationist ever awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Even science kept honoring him.
David Livingston, Getty Images
48. His Name Lives On—In Nature
In 2009, scientists discovered a new Australian air-breathing land snail. Needless to say, they had the perfect name in mind: Crikey steveirwini. That same year, Irwin entered the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame for his “international entrepreneurship” in conservation. But his greatest legacy had nothing to do with wild animals at all.
49. He Loved People More Than Crocodiles
In honor of his legacy, Irwin’s widow spoke about what truly motivated her husband. “The only thing that could ever keep him away from the animals he loves are the people he loves even more,” she said. Even after a life of wrestling crocodiles and handling venomous snakes, Irwin simply hoped to be remembered for just one thing—being a good father.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers, Getty Images
50. His Nose Nearly Got Chomped
Fun fact: At four years old, Irwin learned that wildlife bites back. In a wild incident, his father's sulfur-crested cockatoo lunged at his face, nearly tearing off his nose. The attack left him terrified of parrots for life—except for one black cockatoo named Ularoo who somehow earned his trust.
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