Here is a quote I cut off another message board. He said it more eloquently than I have been saying it.
"However...Fish On is not completely "off the deap end" when he laments the fact that Irwin made a career from being irresponsible around dangerous animals and this is what people were attracted to and paid to see. It fostered the unfortunate mind-set that wild animals aren't "wild" and can be treated like a domesticated animal. Further, Irwin's work and his many contributions to preserve wild animals are wonderful reflections of the man's character but it should be noted that we as consumptive users of wildlife would have a direct conflict with many of the organizations that his money was directed to. World Wildlife Fund, Fund for Animals, etc., are committed to the elimination of sport hunting and fishing. This is one of the most difficult issues we face as sportsmen and women. How do we resolve the conflict between our desire to conserve and protect the resources we love and the desire of others in the conservation/protectionist field that believe the resource should be protected from us? Tough questions that don't have easy answers. Again, this is a tragedy for the life lost and lives impacted by the loss. It also drives home a point that many of us are very aware of...wild animals are wild, they should be viewed and treated as such."
