Google Doodle Honours Legacy of ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin

Google on Friday celebrated the 57th birth anniversary of ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin with a doodle.

The animated picture album created by the tech giant shows various aspects of the Australian wildlife conservationist life, from holding a crocodile to hanging out with his wife Terri and kids Bindi and Robert.

In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for his services to global conservation. He was also nominated for the Australian of the Year in 2004.

Irwin was born on February 22, 1962 in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia, but his family soon moved to Beerwah on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and opened a wildlife park called the Beerwah Reptile Park – now known as the Australia Zoo.

Irwin met his wife Terri Raines in 1991 while she was visiting Australia. The couple went on to tie the knot the next year at her grandmother’s church in Eugene, Oregon.

The couple went to save a crocodile in North Queensland for their honeymoon and also took a film crew along. This gave birth to the popular show ‘The Crocodile Hunter‘, that aired from 1996 to 2004, wrapping up two years before Irwin’s death.

Irwin died on September 4, 2006, after being pierced in the heart by a stingray barb while filming an underwater documentary film titled Ocean’s Deadliest.

As a tribute to Irwin, a khaki-coloured tree snail was named Crikey in the conservationist’s memory. Irwin was posthumously honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, last year.

‘The Guardian’ compared the sudden demise of the Australian conservationist and TV personality to the passing of Princess Diana, with thousands around the world mourning the loss.