When was the last time you heard of PETA or Germaine Greer truly fighting to protect nature? Let's be real, PETA talks trash more than they clear it from the land. In fact, they were responsible for dumping a load of it, in the form of manure, in front of the San Diego Zoo a few years ago after the Zoological Society of San Diego received a herd of elephants from Swaziland. The elephants had been scheduled to be killed until ZSSD and the Lowry Park Zoo in Florida saved them. PETA's spin was that the elephants had been roaming freely at a wildlife preserve, but the overcrowded park was about to ease their burden by killing the elephants. PETA then stated the elephants should have been relocated to another part of Africa, where they could roam free. Wildlife preserves exist in Africa because of dwindling habitat, habitat often decimated by wars, agriculture, and poachers.
Steve Irwin, among other wildlife conservationists and documentarians, often reported on the declining condition of habitat in Africa, Asia — worldwide, actually. His message was simply one of encouraging people to care about wildlife and protecting the land and the resources these animals require to remain in the wild.
These are just a few examples of what Irwin did to promote conservation. His fans, well aware of his message, are highly unlikely to be the culprits behind the stingray deaths. And Steve Irwin, most definitely, does not deserve the criticism he's receiving from groups like PETA or people like Germaine Greer.
Call it a culture of blame, yellow journalism, or just plain incompetence, but the headlines are misleading and are meant solely to sell more papers. PETA just wants attention.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
They're still not onto me. This is very good news indeed.
2 - Joan Hunt
Suss, I shall find you before the night is out. :P
3 - Jet in Columbus
Suddenly the scene from 9 to 5 comes to mind with the office workers chasing after Suss with torches, whips and chains and he's found cowering/hiding in the ladie's room just outside of Joan's office
4 - Jared Wright
It's PETA. What do you expect?
5 - Karene Benchetrit
I believe that these attacks are because of the death of Steve Irwan.. ONLY because we are so passionate about him and what he stands for, that our grief has over come us and we unconsiousily act our our anger instead of thinking of what Steve Irwan would do. Please think before you act!
6 - curmudgeon
Just watched Tucker Carlson, interviewing Dan Matthews, a vice president and main spokesman for PETA...
He, (Matthews) was a little bit out of control.. blaming Irwin for undermining all the good work that PETA had done.. He complained about Irwin "torturing" and "teasing" animals.
Carlson asked him a few questions, and finally, voice rising to a crescendo... Dan Matthews literally shouted... "I'm glad he's dead!"
7 - Joan Hunt
Perhaps PETA's mad just because Irwin didn't give them funds. If he had, don't you think they'd be praising him?
It saddens me to think how much PETA's hurt conservation and animal rights. They've become a parody of themselves to the point where they're really no longer about the animals, but more interested in being outrageous.
8 - Snarkattack
There are several reasons I'm embarrassed to live in Australia and this is just one of the many...enacting retribution on wild animals for the sake of some gung-ho croc wrestler (okay, so I made the last bit up). It's not like the stingray woke up and said "I'm gonna put my barb in that khaki-clad guy that says 'Crikey!' all the time!". Sheesh, people. Leave the stingrays alone - that's what Steve would have wanted.
9 - Joan Hunt
Snarkattack, I honestly don't think it's fans doing this. I think it's fishermen and others who are responsible, taking advantage of Steve's death to push more buttons and put a blemish on all the good Steve's done.
10 - brog
Peta rocks. Its obvious the rays are being killed because of the irwin death and its the last thing steve would have wanted to happen. he was there to protect animals. and before you start trash talking PETA think about how much they've done and how little your doing. dumbass.