The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin by Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin Page A
Authors: Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin
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products ranging from juice to old toys. (Of course, I was always the president of the “company.”) It was only natural that after I got out of school, I would work full-time for my parents. At twenty I was running the family business. Now one of my sisters was buying the business as I was severing my ties and moving on.
Growing up in Oregon: I’ve always had an interest in the outdoors and in business!
Next, I needed to sort out the other love of my life, “Cougar Country,” a wildlife rehabilitation facility for predatory mammals. This, too, would have to be taken over by someone else and the responsibility for some three hundred animals a year (from bats to bobcats) would have to be passed on. The workload had proved to be too much for any of over one hundred volunteers who worked with me. Finally, one woman agreed to follow through with my work, but only for the following twelve months. Seven years of wildlife rescue work in the Pacific Northwest would then also have to come to an end.
I didn’t play with dolls, I organized business enterprises.
Most of the permanently held wildlife was eventually relocated to caring individuals who would look after them for the rest of the animals’ lives. Some of these animals were too badly injured to be released back to the wild. That was the case with Chuck the raccoon. He had been terribly mauled by a dog when he was only about eight weeks old. His mother had been killed trying to defend her young from this marauding pet. Other animals were victims of the entertainment industry—like Malina the cougar. After performing in a movie, she found herself for sale in the exotic pet trade. Steve and I were hoping to get Malina to Australia, so I found her atemporary holding facility nearby.
Steve and I were hoping to bring Malina back to Australia.
Me and Malina, one of my cougar friends from “Cougar Country.”
While I was in the States, Steve was facing the problem of moving Graham, one of the crocodiles. He had grown much more quickly than the other crocs in his enclosure and was fast becoming a danger to them. Steve was going to allow Channel 10 News to film the event, which would show the crocodile lured from the water with a food item so that Steve could drop a loop of rope over its top jaw. Then Steve would drag him from the water, jump on the croc’s head, secure a blindfold, and move him…piece of cake!
Steve had trouble with Graham from the start. Channel 10 flew a film crew to the Park by helicopter—only to find Graham refusing to come out of the water. Several days later, a second attempt also failed. By the third attempt Steve was really feeling the pressure. He was determined to catch this croc for the camera.
As Graham showed interest in the food item, Steve stepped those few inches closer to ensure the lasso would meet its mark. But at the last moment, Graham suddenly shifted his attention from the food item to Steve’s hand holding the rope. In an instant, Graham had hold of Steve’s right hand. As Graham began to drag Steve toward the water, Steve immediately moved with him to avoid losing his arm. When Graham pulled Steve into the water, Steve’s only thought was of survival. Steve landed on Graham’s head and instinctively tried to hang on. This two-hundred-pound weight was not exactly what Graham had anticipated and he let go to swim for deeper water.
The big day-we were married in Oregon.
Even as the staff were rushing to Steve’s aid, it was all over. Channel 10 rushed to Brisbane with the footage and Steve was rushed to hospital. Graham’s teeth had punctured holes completely through Steve’s hand. Steve carefully explained to me that night that he’d made a mistake but this wasn’t an easy situation for me to handle. It was a mistake that could have cost Steve his life. I felt a real sense of urgency to be with him again.
June was upon me almost before I realized it. Steve landed safely in Eugene, Oregon, with eight of his
Growing up in Oregon: I’ve always had an interest in the outdoors and in business!
Next, I needed to sort out the other love of my life, “Cougar Country,” a wildlife rehabilitation facility for predatory mammals. This, too, would have to be taken over by someone else and the responsibility for some three hundred animals a year (from bats to bobcats) would have to be passed on. The workload had proved to be too much for any of over one hundred volunteers who worked with me. Finally, one woman agreed to follow through with my work, but only for the following twelve months. Seven years of wildlife rescue work in the Pacific Northwest would then also have to come to an end.
I didn’t play with dolls, I organized business enterprises.
Most of the permanently held wildlife was eventually relocated to caring individuals who would look after them for the rest of the animals’ lives. Some of these animals were too badly injured to be released back to the wild. That was the case with Chuck the raccoon. He had been terribly mauled by a dog when he was only about eight weeks old. His mother had been killed trying to defend her young from this marauding pet. Other animals were victims of the entertainment industry—like Malina the cougar. After performing in a movie, she found herself for sale in the exotic pet trade. Steve and I were hoping to get Malina to Australia, so I found her atemporary holding facility nearby.
Steve and I were hoping to bring Malina back to Australia.
Me and Malina, one of my cougar friends from “Cougar Country.”
While I was in the States, Steve was facing the problem of moving Graham, one of the crocodiles. He had grown much more quickly than the other crocs in his enclosure and was fast becoming a danger to them. Steve was going to allow Channel 10 News to film the event, which would show the crocodile lured from the water with a food item so that Steve could drop a loop of rope over its top jaw. Then Steve would drag him from the water, jump on the croc’s head, secure a blindfold, and move him…piece of cake!
Steve had trouble with Graham from the start. Channel 10 flew a film crew to the Park by helicopter—only to find Graham refusing to come out of the water. Several days later, a second attempt also failed. By the third attempt Steve was really feeling the pressure. He was determined to catch this croc for the camera.
As Graham showed interest in the food item, Steve stepped those few inches closer to ensure the lasso would meet its mark. But at the last moment, Graham suddenly shifted his attention from the food item to Steve’s hand holding the rope. In an instant, Graham had hold of Steve’s right hand. As Graham began to drag Steve toward the water, Steve immediately moved with him to avoid losing his arm. When Graham pulled Steve into the water, Steve’s only thought was of survival. Steve landed on Graham’s head and instinctively tried to hang on. This two-hundred-pound weight was not exactly what Graham had anticipated and he let go to swim for deeper water.
The big day-we were married in Oregon.
Even as the staff were rushing to Steve’s aid, it was all over. Channel 10 rushed to Brisbane with the footage and Steve was rushed to hospital. Graham’s teeth had punctured holes completely through Steve’s hand. Steve carefully explained to me that night that he’d made a mistake but this wasn’t an easy situation for me to handle. It was a mistake that could have cost Steve his life. I felt a real sense of urgency to be with him again.
June was upon me almost before I realized it. Steve landed safely in Eugene, Oregon, with eight of his
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