[chainsoar]

Personally, and this is just my opinion, you understand, I always thought Steve Irwin was an idiot. Having handled and looked after snakes myself for a few years, I know his techniques were massively flawed. The only way, for example, to handle a venomous snake, if you have to, is to hold it behind the head, between forefinger and thumb with your thumb locked into the 'v' in the back of the snake's skull, forcing and holding its jaw open. Contrary to many people's belief, this does not harm the animal. Irwin, on the other hand, grabbed snakes by the tail which is a sure way to cause damage to a snake if you're not careful, and also it allows the snake to whip around and bite the hand of the person holding it. I don't think I need to point out that his crocodile handling techniques left much to be desired. I found his animal handling techniques disturbingly innacurate in general. To quote an example, he once said that the Cassowary is an incredibly dangerous and violent bird, which will disembowel you with its beak in a second flat. True though this may be, the birds in his zoo were kept wild and dangerous, whereas any decent zookeeper who has worked with them will tell you they are as easily tamed as chickens.

On the other hand, I wouldn't say it's not sad that he died, and I feel sorry for his family. I just didn't like him much myself.

Rant over.