The Crocodile Hunter

August 27, 2001
While many U.S. readers will be familiar with Australian Steve Irwin's good-mate/wild-man persona from his smash hit cable show Crocodile Hunter, they may be surprised by the passion and thought with which Steve and his wife, Terri, undertake wildlife conservation work. Neither will fans be bored: this entertaining, exciting autobiography/adventure tale/environmental tract is packed, as advertised, with incredible feats. Steve is son to the man "recognized as the greatest herpetologist in Australia and revered throughout the world as a legend for catching highly venomous snakes" bare-handed. The first section recounts Steve's childhood with his conservation-minded father and mother ("She was the Mother Teresa of wildlife rehabilitation"), who built the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, soon enlarged and renamed the Australian Zoo, one of the best zoological facilities in the world. As the park expanded, Steve learned to leap from boats onto the backs of crocodiles of all sizes, capturing them for relocation. The second section is told by Terri, an impressive Oregonian nature lover who was running a wildlife rehabilitation facility when she met Steve on a trip to Australia. While Steve punctuates his writing with phrases like "Holy snappin' duck poo!" Terri offers a calmer perspective on their commitment to wildlife conservation. The final section discusses the Irwins' current efforts at the Australian Zoo: "Our passion for wildlife is our elixir of life and we'll die defending animals that others deem dangerous and threatening." What could have been an easy rip-off of a popular show is a fun, educational read for adults and children alike.