For a fallen wildslinger

Who'd thought he'd pass on with his love for nature pierced straight into his heart? I still remember when I first saw him on TV, the bugger was reveling in mud trying to catch a wild boar (and managing to grab only its hind legs before the little piglet struggled free) - and I thought WOOOHOOOO! A man after my own heart! He'd be one of the REAL men out in the wild down and dirty with the critters themselves.

He's what I call a wildslinger - like a gunslinger, only that his domain isn’t in a spaghetti western but in real grit and muck of the wilderness. His guns aren’t Colt Peacemakers; he shoots with his cameras, his grubby hands and his heart for nature.

Blatant disregard for his own safety not withstanding, he was a refreshing figure after hearing so many boring disembodied voices on the documentary, or even peeps who try to put their faces on the screen but still end up pansy as ever, like Jeff Corwin (cant hold a candle to Big Stevie!). Other than Attenborough, he'd be the only other guy I love to see on the telly tackling critters (coz unless you have crawled through a termite mound or jumped on a croc you don’t make the list).

Some people find fault with the seemingly callous way he handles critters (read: irritate the crap out of them). But look closer and you can see how much he treats them with respect. One must take risks anyway, and Steve was just taking them as they came. It is a lot to say if you handle crocs a lot more than the average guy and have never been mauled by them - he's careful, alright. Getting stabbed in the heart with a stinger, or even anywhere else is just pure bad luck lah. And all this was done for a cause, too. In tackling critters, Steve tackles conservation issues with that in-you-face,damnnit way. He does what he preaches. He may seem flamboyant, but personally, I think he really loves what he does, and as he continues doing what he loves and does best, there my heart goes to him.

I must confess, this is greatly distressing and saddening. No amount of turtles* will bring a fallen wildslinger back.

Thus passes one legendary Wildslinger. He'll be missed, but they'll be others, and they'll continue walking the path Steve so paved with his life alongside nature. We’ll think of you when we’re trudging through forests, or when we’re stuck in the mud filming our own critters.

Peace to thee, Steve.

Steve Irwin, prodder of critters (and he loves them very much!)
22/02/1962 - 04/09/2006

(Picture procured with thanks from here)

*As tribute to Steve, a whole host of MSN messenger users have taken to putting in a turtle in their nicknames, only for the lack of a crocodile icon.