Dec 23, 2005 03:39 PM
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(Updated Dec 23, 2005 03:39 PM)
For Irwin, it didn’t seem as if there was a difference between launching himself across a crocodile-infested river in a canoe, or playing with Sui, his Staffordshire bull terrier. And yet, if we learn about his incredible life, we'd hardly be surprised.
His parents, who dedicated themselves to the protection of wildlife, founded the Australia Zoo -- which Steve now directs -- when he was just a child. In fact, the great majority of animals in the zoo were captured by his parents themselves.
Before Steve's tenth birthday, his father had already taught him how to jump on crocodiles and handle the world's deadliest snakes without harming them or getting bitten. But that's not all -- do you know what he received when he turned six? A 3.6-meter python, which he named Fred!
After nearly 30 years of learning to stay alive among wild creatures, he launched the television program, ''Crocodile Hunter.'' Today he has over 500 million viewers who follow him around the world, never missing one of his fascinating journeys.
Whether it's meeting face-to-face with crocodiles (his main passion), handling a poisonous Fer-de-Lance snake, or scuba diving with hungry sharks in western Australia, Steve's skills and energy are so dazzling that they're capable of making us feel the danger from our seats.
This time around, Steve will visit Central America and Australia, among other places, to feed sharks and confront poisonous snakes, and, of course, wild crocodiles!
