I could never understand how he was helping the cause of animals by stalking, pouncing on and grasping the animals (usually around the throat).

I have spent a lot of time in the ocean. Whenever I have seen a stingray or a giant black manta ray passing by or under me, my instinct and my intelligence tells me no don’t approach them, just give these beautiful creatures some space. Leave them be.

I still say rest in peace – but I never liked his style with animals.

As for Irwin, I completely agree with what Germaine has said. He WAS an animal tormentor, he had very little, if any, respect for the sanctity and dignity of the animal kingdom. Essentially, Steve Irwin was a businessman – he had his hands in many pies, both literally and metaphorically speaking. How many other ‘naturalists’ do you know of that have cooking shows with their 8 yr old daughters!

What the hell was he doing ‘cuddling’ wild anmials such as a mother orang u tang and her baby? Shouldn’t he have realised that once animals in the wild get the scent of human beings on them they are ostracized by the rest of their community, sometimes even killed? ‘Oh! Oh! Who cares!’ I hear you say!!

Amazing how respected naturalists such as Jacques Cousteau manage not to get killed prematurely by the animals they investigate. Hmmm, maybe they don’t torment them, don’t invade their territory ??

How convenient for the Howard govt that Steve and his AMERICAN wife are being celebrated as AUSTRALIAN naturalists! Takes the focus off those bloody ‘Abbo’s', you know, those people who know more about Australian conservation and wildlife than anybody else on the planet?! But I suppose, why publically give credit to thousands of years worth of knowledge when you can give credit to an eight year old child in designer khaki shorts?? Yes, f#ck the Aboriginals, it’s Bindi Irwin that’s the real Australian naturalist!

I hope Steve Irwin is resting in peace, but I also hope that parents are smart enough to instruct children that this man lived an unnecesaarily dangerous life. I’m not holding my breath though!

Steve Irwin because of his theatrics with wildlife has brought us much closer to the wildlife conservation issue. No one denies that there are others out there doing their bit however, who are they, and what have they done. We are none the wiser on wildlife conservation due to their efforts. We don’t know who they are but we do know who Steve Irwin is and what his has done for wildlife conservation. Of course he has done daredevil things but his heart was in the right place. The money he has made from his notoriety has gone back in bucket loads for wildlife conservation. What have you done for wildlife conservation? If you have done as much as him then criticise.

So he manhandled a few animals….so what! Did he knife them, did he kill them, did he injure them, did he whip them like a lion tamer would do to a lion as that silly old hag suggested. Get a grip they are crocadiles,wild animals, they cop much much heavy hidings in the wild and survive.

I don’t believe any animal has been badly injured due to his involvement. However, he was. In getting closer to these animals was a brave thing to do and not so dumb as you point out. He knew the risks and took a calculated gamble. He was willing to do this so that we, and even you could understand more about the animal world. Don’t you get it? He was willing sacrifice his life for what he believed in and that was to have an animal kingdom for future generations to protect. HE LOVED ANIMALS!!!

Get off his back and stop jumping on the I want to be different and be associated with a washout old hag like Germaine Greer. Again, if you think you are being clever by raising the John Howard aspect, think again. Calling people dumb really shows you up. Steve was a proud Australian, and I for one didn’t cringe when he talked his Aussie venacular. Just proves he didn’t need to impress people like a Germaine Greer and her silly pseudo academic followers feel they need to do.

Get a grip.

John, Brisbane

Lets review what Ms. Greer has done for wildlife lately… Oh yes… signed up as a housemate on “Big Brother” UK, supposedly to support the Australian rainforest. The depth of her commitment? 5 days before she walked out. Then she has the gall to criticise a man who literally gave his life bringing conservation awareness to millions around the globe.

Like many insulated, self-important academics of her ilk, Ms. Greer is clueless that, even though she attended all the right universities and once earned a PhD, she is still a no-class ignorant boor.