Full of Croc?; April 2001; Scientific American Magazine; by Sarah Simpson; 1 Page(s)

Many people think of Steve Irwin as that crazy Aussie who wrestles crocodiles on TV. He has produced dozens of wildlife documentaries for cable's Animal Planet. His wild-man persona even dominates a Federal Express commercial and the trailers for Eddie Murphy's upcoming Dr. Dolittle film sequel. So is this guy just an entertainer with a brazen attitude around wild animals, or is he a committed wildlife conservationist? I went to Queensland, Australia, to ask the Crocodile Hunter himself.

Q: Why do you think you're so popular? A: You know what I reckon it is? My belief is that what comes across on the television is my enthusiasm and my passion for wildlife. My mum and dad were very passionate about that, and I was lucky enough to go along. The first crocodile I ever caught was at nine years of age, and it was a rescue. So now what happens is the cameras follow me around and capture exactly what I've been doing since I was a boy. When I'm talking to the camera, I'm talking to you, in your living room.