Very brave of "The Australian" to go against the tide of public opinion
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20360340-7583,00.html
WHAT Irwin never seemed to understand was that animals need space.
The one lesson any conservationist must labour to drive home is that
habitat loss is the principal cause of species loss. There was no habitat,
no matter how fragile or finely balanced, that Irwin hesitated to barge into,
trumpeting his wonder and amazement to the skies. There was not an
animal he was not prepared to manhandle.
Every creature he brandished at the camera was in distress.
Every snake badgered by Irwin was at a huge disadvantage,
with only a single possible reaction to its terrifying situation,
which was to strike. Easy enough to avoid if you know what's coming.
Even my cat knew that much.
In 2004, Irwin was accused of illegally encroaching on the
space of penguins, seals and humpback whales in Antarctica,
where he was filming a documentary called Ice Breaker.
An investigation by the Australian environmental department
resulted in no action being taken, which is not surprising
seeing that John Howard made sure that Irwin was one of
the guests invited to a gala barbecue for George W. Bush
a few months before. Howard is now Irwin's chief mourner,
which is only fair seeing that Irwin announced that Howard
is the greatest leader the world has ever seen.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20360340-7583,00.html
WHAT Irwin never seemed to understand was that animals need space.
The one lesson any conservationist must labour to drive home is that
habitat loss is the principal cause of species loss. There was no habitat,
no matter how fragile or finely balanced, that Irwin hesitated to barge into,
trumpeting his wonder and amazement to the skies. There was not an
animal he was not prepared to manhandle.
Every creature he brandished at the camera was in distress.
Every snake badgered by Irwin was at a huge disadvantage,
with only a single possible reaction to its terrifying situation,
which was to strike. Easy enough to avoid if you know what's coming.
Even my cat knew that much.
In 2004, Irwin was accused of illegally encroaching on the
space of penguins, seals and humpback whales in Antarctica,
where he was filming a documentary called Ice Breaker.
An investigation by the Australian environmental department
resulted in no action being taken, which is not surprising
seeing that John Howard made sure that Irwin was one of
the guests invited to a gala barbecue for George W. Bush
a few months before. Howard is now Irwin's chief mourner,
which is only fair seeing that Irwin announced that Howard
is the greatest leader the world has ever seen.