Steve Irwin Biography (1962-2006) Stephen ‘Steve’ Irwin is one of the most famous Australians. Known as the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, he is renowned for his love for wildlife, his Khaki shirt and shorts, and his catchphrase, CRIKEY! Born on 22nd February 1962 in upper Fern Tree Gully, Steve was born to Lyn and Bob Irwin. He had two sisters, Mandy Irwin and Joy Irwin. Steve and his family, moved to Beerwah in Queensland. There, his parents opened up a wildlife park in 1970 called the ‘Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park’. He grew up loving all wildlife and animals, especially reptiles! He caught his first venomous snake, (a common brown) at the young age of six. He would arrive to school late many times after persuading his mother to stop the car so he could rescue a lizard. When Irwin was only nine years old, he was already helping …show more content…
There, with his dog Sui, he spent his time catching problem crocodiles in case they got shot by poachers. He cleverly developed crocodile capture and management techniques, now utilised with crocodilians around the world. (Steve Biography). By 1980, the wildlife park was renamed to the ‘Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park’ where Steve called home. Irwin and his best friend Wes Mannion, worked many hours caring for the wildlife and animals and also maintaining the grounds. In 1991, his work payed off as he took over managing the exotic and interesting wildlife park. While running the business, Irwin met his future wife, a tourist from America, Terri Rains on the 6th October. They married in Eugene, Oregon, on 4th June 1992, at a Methodist church, Terri’s grandmother used to attend. The young couple rejected a traditional honeymoon to start filming a wildlife documentary with John Stainton. The show was an instant success! The Crocodile Hunter was born! In 1992, Steve’s parents retired of old age and Steve worked countless hours caring and expanding the wildlife