Crikey! It's Steve Irwin! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Beerwah Reptile Park

Steve Irwin was born on February 22, 1962, in Melbourne, Australia, and spent his early childhood immersed in nature thanks to his parents, Bob and Lyn Irwin. Growing up as a little boy, Steve did not have a typical upbringing. He was given a 12-foot python for his sixth birthday, learned to catch venomous snakes as a child, and was wrestling small crocodiles under his father's guidance by the time he was nine years old.

His connection to animals deepened when his family moved to Queensland in 1970 and opened the Beerwah Reptile Park, a modest two-acre sanctuary dedicated to housing local reptiles and injured wildlife. Steve spent his youth helping build enclosures, feeding animals, and running daily operations alongside his parents. This would begin laying the groundwork for the park that he would eventually take over and transform into the famous Australia Zoo.

Answer: Dog

During the 1980s, Steve Irwin spent months living out of a makeshift bush camp in Queensland, working as a volunteer for the government's East Coast Crocodile Management Program. His loyal Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Sui, was by his side to guard their camp, watch the boat, and keep an eye out for lurking predators while he was in the water. Steve tackled the dangerous task of catching "problem" saltwater crocodiles that threatened human settlements.

However, instead of using lethal force or harsh chemical tranquilizers, which often cause fatal lactic acid deposits in reptiles, Steve pioneered non-lethal capture methods. These included using ropes, soft burlap towels to cover their eyes, and precise body placement to safely restrain the animals. His innovative techniques allowed rogue crocs to be safely relocated without harm, minimizing trauma for the animals and dramatically reducing risk for handlers.

Answer: Freshwater turtle

In 1990, while on a fishing trip with his father Bob along the Burdekin River in Queensland, Steve spotted an unusual freshwater turtle swimming near the boat. Noticing its distinctive, pale yellowish head and unique shell shape, Steve caught the specimen and photographed it before taking details to reptile experts. Herpetologists confirmed that it was a species entirely new to science, and officially named it Irwin's turtle ("Elseya irwini") in his honor.

This rare, air-breathing freshwater turtle relies on clean, highly oxygenated river water and has the fascinating ability to extract oxygen underwater through special glands, allowing it to stay submerged for long periods. Because its habitat is concentrated in a limited region of Queensland, discovery of the species spurred ongoing conservation efforts to protect local waterways and dam-affected river systems where the turtle lives.

Answer: Steve and Terri's honeymoon

Steve Irwin met his future wife, Terri Raines, an American wildlife rehabilitator from Oregon, in 1991 when she visited Australia Zoo during a tour of regional wildlife sanctuaries. The pair were immediately attracted to each other and bonded over their shared passion for conservation. They were engaged just four months later, marrying in Terri's hometown of Eugene, Oregon, on June 4, 1992.

Instead of taking a traditional, relaxing honeymoon, Steve received an urgent call that a problem saltwater crocodile needed to be trapped and relocated in northern Queensland. Terri eagerly joined him in the bush, and television producer John Stainton tagged along with cameras to document their wild camping trip. The raw, unscripted footage of the couple wrangling wild crocodiles in muddy rivers turned out so captivating and authentic that it was edited into the pilot episode of "The Crocodile Hunter", launching the global television franchise.

Answer: False

Steve and Terri Irwin had two children who grew up immersed in wildlife conservation at Australia Zoo. Daughter Bindi was born on July 24, 1998, and son Robert was born on December 1, 2003. Following their father's passing, both siblings stepped into the public eye to continue his legacy as global conservation ambassadors.

Bindi hosted the Daytime Emmy-winning children's series "Bindi the Jungle Girl", won "Dancing with the Stars" in 2015, and started work as a leading wildlife advocate and executive at Australia Zoo. Robert became an award-winning nature photographer, co-hosted television programs including "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!", and frequently appeared on international talk shows to showcase exotic animals and promote conservation.

Answer: Parrot

Despite fearlessly wrestling huge predators like saltwater crocodiles and handling deadly snakes, Steve Irwin had a surprising phobia of parrots. During a famous 2004 interview on CNN's "Larry King Live", Steve openly confessed his unease around birds, admitting that parrot beaks terrified him because of their tendency to bite unexpectedly.

He explained to Larry King that while he could read the body language of wild reptiles and large carnivores with ease, birds were completely unpredictable to him, famously declaring, "I don't know why, but parrots have got to bite me... they just give me the bad eye". Steve recalled getting severely bitten on the face and nose by cockatoos and parrots on multiple occasions, acknowledging that even as the fearless hunter he was, that bird with its sharp beak made him genuinely nervous.

Answer: The Wiggles

In 2002, Steve Irwin teamed up with the iconic Australian children's entertainment group The Wiggles for a large collaborative project titled "Wiggly Safari". The collaboration spawned both a studio album and a feature video special filmed on location at Australia Zoo. In the show, Steve, his wife Terri, and their young daughter Bindi joined The Wiggles (Greg, Anthony, Murray, and Jeff) to teach young audiences about Australian wildlife through music and dance.

The album and video featured original songs focused on animals and conservation, including tracks like "The Crocodile Hunter", "Australia Zoo", and "Snakes (You Can Look, But You Better Not Touch)". The collaboration was a huge commercial success, earning an ARIA Music Award nomination for Best Children's Album and introducing a generation of children to Steve's passion for animals.

Answer: Martial arts

Steve Irwin was a dedicated practitioner of martial arts, using that disciplined combat training to keep his body agile, strong, and capable of handling massive wild animals. He regularly trained in Gaidojutsu (a mixed martial arts style created by legendary MMA athlete Greg Jackson) as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and traditional wrestling.

Rather than using his skills for fighting, Steve applied martial arts principles directly to wildlife conservation. Learning how to use leverage, balance, and body weight allowed him to safely pin and restrain massive crocodiles without injuring the animals or putting himself in unnecessary danger. He frequently sparred with professional fighters, believing that the quick reflexes and core conditioning gained on the training mats were essential tools for surviving high-stakes encounters wild creatures.

Answer: Stingray

On September 4, 2006, Steve Irwin tragically died at age 44 while filming off the coast of Port Douglas in Queensland, Australia. While snorkeling in chest-deep water at Batt Reef to shoot footage of marine life, Steve swam over a stingray. Uncharacteristically startled by his presence, the animal lashed out in self-defense, striking him with its ail barb and piercing his heart.

Despite immediate first aid from his crew and a rapid response from emergency medics, the injury caused massive internal bleeding and cardiac arrest, resulting in his death before reaching medical help. The sudden loss of the famous conservationist sparked a massive outpouring of global grief, leading to a televised memorial service watched by over 300 million people worldwide and cementing his legacy as a tireless advocate for wildlife protection.

Answer: Wildlife Warriors

Steve and Terri Irwin founded Wildlife Warriors in 2002 (originally named the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation) as a way to turn their huge television success into global environmental action. Steve created the non-profit to give passionate people everywhere a way to directly support habitat protection, anti-poaching units, and the rescue of endangered species.

Following Steve's passing in 2006, the organization expanded significantly under the leadership of Terri, Bindi, and Robert. Supported by administrative backing from Australia Zoo, Wildlife Warriors has funded critical conservation projects worldwide-including tiger preservation in Sumatra, cheetah protection in Africa, and the rescue of threatened sea turtles. Its flagship effort, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, has provided emergency medical treatment to more than 135,000 sick, injured, and orphaned native animals, including thousands of victims during Australia's devastating 2019-2020 bush fires, ensuring Steve's mission to "save one, save the species" lesson endures.