“Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin’s death was a tragedy, but what people have been reportedly doing to avenge his death, to me, seems just as horrific. By now you know that Irwin was fatally injured last week after a stingray barb pierced his chest as he recorded a segment for a wildlife show off the Great Barrier Reef. Since then state officials say at least 10 stingrays have been killed, forcing a spokesman for the late TV star’s animal charity to “urge people not take revenge on the animals.”
Officials from the local fisheries department report that “multiple stingray bodies have been discovered on two beaches in Queensland state on Australia’s eastern coast.” Two reportedly were discovered with their tails cut off. While some speculate that the practice of cutting off stingray tails is sometimes done by fishermen who inadvertently catch the diamond-shaped rays to avoid being stung, experts say the practice is uncommon and those who have seen the dismembered rays say it is “highly unlikely that is what happened in the case of these particular fish.”
The news is deeply upsetting to Michael Hornby, the executive director of Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors conservation group. He said he was concerned the rays were being hunted and killed in retaliation for Irwin’s death.
“It may be some sort of retribution, or it may be fear from certain individuals, or it just may be yet another callous act toward wildlife,” he said.
He said killing stingrays was “not what Steve was about.” Hornby went on to say: “We are disgusted and disappointed that people would take this sort of action to hurt wildlife.”
For those of you unfamiliar with the sea creatures who seem to glide effortlessly through the water, they are classified by animal experts as “shy, unobtrusive fish that rummage the sea bottom for food or burrow into the sand.” However, they are also equipped with a serrated spine up to 10 inches long on their tails, which they can lash when stepped on or otherwise frightened. The spines emit toxins that can kill many small creatures and cause excruciating pain in humans.
Hornby said people should treat stingrays with caution, but “there is still no need to … kill or mutilate these important animals.”
I don’t think I am going out on a limb here by saying the news would likely make Irwin turn over in his grave.
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