Steve Irwin fans may be taking revenge on stingrays
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 | 3:33 PM ET
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At least 10 stingrays have been killed on the coast where Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin died after being stung by one of the marine species, according to fisheries officials in Australia.
Michael Hornby, executive director of Irwin's charity Wildlife Warriors, fears fans of the 44-year-old wildlife enthusiast may be taking retribution on the stingrays.
"We are disgusted and disappointed that people would take this sort of action to hurt wildlife," said Hornby on Tuesday.
Australian Steve Irwin right, is seen at his Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, Australia, holding a female alligator in company with his American wife Terri.
(AP Photo/Russell McPhedran)
Irwin was fatally injured Sept. 4 after a stingray lashed out and stuck its poisonous barb into his heart. He was filming a piece for a television show.
Hornby said he wasn't sure if the stingrays were being killed out of fear or callous disregard for the stingrays, but reiterated that their killing wasn't "what Steve was about."
Fisheries officials on Australia's eastern coast report 10 stingray bodies, some with their tails cut off, have been discovered since Irwin's death.
Mourners have left khaki shirts, flowers and cards outside the Australia Zoo, which has become a shrine to the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.
(Steve Holland/Associated Press)
They say the number is unusual and the cutting of stingray tails is rare, too.
"We do not know if these incidents are motivated by Steve Irwin's death. At the moment, this is just speculation," said Wayne Sumpton, a biologist with Queensland's Fisheries Department.
Sumpton says the normally shy fish often get caught in nets, at which point, they should be returned to the sea.
Stingrays have serrated tails and tend to lash out when they are threatened or stepped on.
Irwin, who first appeared on Australian television in 1992 with his series Crocodile Hunter, was a popular nature conservationist. His show soon ran on Discovery and has been reported as having a worldwide audience of 200 million.
Memorial planned in Brisbane
The Sydney Morning Herald reports fans of Irwin have created an online game called Terri Irwin's Revenge, in reference to the Crocodile Hunter's American wife.
The game uses simple animation showing an armed Terri Irwin firing at stingrays underwater. The goal is to kill as many of them as possible.
A statement posted on the site by the game's creators says "this game is intended to be a memorial and NOT a funny parody."
Irwin's father, Bob, and some of his close friends announced Monday a public memorial is being planned and is likely to take place in Brisbane on Sept. 19 or 20.
The family held a private funeral over the weekend and buried Irwin at his Australia Zoo.
His father, Bob, turned down an offer of a state funeral from the Australian government.
His wife and two children, Bindi and Bob, are said to be going to the memorial. It would mark the first time they have appeared in public since Irwin's death.
