Remembering Steve Irwin: 20 Years of Crikey, Conservation, and Personal Inspiration
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Twenty years later, on the exact anniversary of his death, Steve Irwin—the exuberant Australian known globally as the Crocodile Hunter—remains a vivid, khaki-clad force in the hearts of millions.
His catchphrase “Crikey!” still echoes as a call to wonder, respect, and action for the natural world.
For me, that impact runs especially deep.
I am the animal expert and lover I am today because I loved watching his shows on Animal Planet.
His boundless energy, fearless enthusiasm, and genuine care for every creature—from the fiercest crocodile to the smallest reptile—sparked a lifelong passion in me.
When news of his passing broke, I was inconsolable for weeks.
The loss felt personal, as if a vibrant, larger-than-life mentor had been taken far too soon.
Stephen Robert Irwin was born on February 22, 1962, in Essendon, Victoria, Australia.
His parents, Bob and Lyn Irwin, instilled in him a profound love of animals from an early age.
The family later moved to Queensland, where they established the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park (later renamed Australia Zoo).
Young Steve grew up handling reptiles, receiving a scrub python for his sixth birthday and learning crocodile management under his father’s guidance.
He became skilled at capturing and relocating large crocodiles as part of wildlife programs, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of hands-on conservation.
Irwin’s infectious energy and genuine enthusiasm for even the most feared creatures transformed wildlife education.
In 1992, he and his American-born wife, Terri (whom he married that year after meeting at the park), launched The Crocodile Hunter.
The series, filled with close encounters with crocodiles, snakes, and other animals, aired in more than 100 countries and reached hundreds of millions of viewers through channels like Animal Planet.
Follow-up shows like Croc Files and The Crocodile Hunter Diaries further cemented his status as a global star who made conservation entertaining and accessible. He showed audiences that “scary” animals deserved understanding and protection, not fear or eradication.
Watching those episodes, I absorbed not just facts about wildlife, but a way of approaching the natural world with curiosity, respect, and joy.
Beyond the screen, Irwin poured his resources and influence into real-world impact.
- He expanded Australia Zoo into a major tourist and conservation destination.
- He founded the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation (later Wildlife Warriors Worldwide), International Crocodile Rescue, and other initiatives focused on protecting endangered species, rehabilitating wildlife, and educating the public.
- He acquired land for habitat restoration, including efforts supporting koalas and other native species, and established the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, which continues to treat thousands of animals annually.
Steve and Terri built a family centered on that same passion.
Daughter Bindi Sue was born in 1998 (named after one of Steve’s favorite crocodiles), and son Robert Clarence arrived in 2003.
Irwin often spoke of the birth of Bindi as the most incredible wildlife encounter of his life, reflecting the deep love that underpinned his public person.
Tragedy struck on September 4, 2006.
While filming the documentary Ocean’s Deadliest at Batt Reef near Port Douglas, Queensland, in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Irwin was snorkeling in shallow water during a weather delay.
He was also gathering footage for his daughter’s show.
A short-tail stingray’s barb pierced his chest and heart.
Despite efforts to save him, he died at age 44.
The incident shocked the world; a public memorial at Australia Zoo’s Crocoseum, introduced by Russell Crowe, drew an estimated global audience of hundreds of millions.
For those of us who had grown up with him on screen, the grief was profound and lasting.
In the two decades since, his family has carried the torch with remarkable dedication.
Terri continues to lead Australia Zoo.
Bindi and Robert have grown into prominent conservationists and media figures in their own right, appearing in series such as Crikey! It’s the Irwins and advancing the family’s wildlife hospital, reserves (including the vast Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve), and educational outreach.
Wildlife Warriors and related projects keep protecting animals and habitats.
Honors include Steve Irwin Day (November 15), a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, scientific names such as the snail Crikey steveirwini and Irwin’s turtle, and even a vessel and asteroid bearing his name or catchphrase.
On this 20th anniversary, the family shared deeply personal tributes.
Bindi described her father as the family’s “superhero,” writing that while she once saw his legacy primarily as wildlife conservation, “it turns out, his legacy is love.
For our planet and for each other.”
She noted the ongoing grief shared by her mother and brother, and how her own young daughter feels connected to the “grandpa crocodile” through his documentaries.
Terri reflected that “after 20 years, grief still walks with me like my shadow,” while recalling their final family time together on a crocodile research expedition.
Robert simply affirmed, “Your legacy is forever.”
Steve Irwin lived at full volume—fearless, joyful, and utterly committed.
He taught generations that enthusiasm for the natural world is not only possible but essential, and that protecting it begins with connection.
For me, that lesson took root while watching him on Animal Planet and has shaped who I am.
Twenty years on, Australia Zoo thrives, his children inspire new audiences, and the message endures: respect wildlife, conserve habitats, and never stop saying “Crikey!” when the wonders of the wild appear.
His life was cut short, but the ripple effects of his passion continue to shape how people see and protect the planet—including those of us who once sat glued to the television, hearts breaking when he left us, and still carrying his spirit forward every day.