Steve Irwin: His Death and his Living Legacy, One Year Later

Hard to believe, but it's been nearly a year since the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, took a fatal blow from a stingray. We knew him thanks to his energetic and passionate televised events, and we mourned him along with his own country when he was unexpectedly taken from us. For us he was an entertaining look into wildlife, teaching us to love, understand and respect those things that we once feared. For those that personally knew him he was a son, a husband, a father and a best mate. For the animals that he loved, he was their number one advocate. In body, he is gone. In spirit and through his daughter, he lives on.

Steve's daughter Bindi Sue and her mom Terri have kicked off the G'day to USA tour, traveling around the United States promoting wildlife and tourism in Australia, a trip that in the past had been headed up by Steve himself. Her uncanny resemblance to her father is not where the similarities end. As natural heir to Steve's public work, Bindi believes it to be her life's mission to continue the fight for wildlife preservation. Terri is happy to help her daughter follow in the footsteps of her late father, and continues to encourage and educate Bindi as a Wildlife Warrior.

In addition to their mission's primary goal, they are touting the release of Ocean's Deadliest, the documentary Steve had been working on when he was killed. Though the footage of Steve's death has been destroyed forever, the work he had done remains intact. It was important to Terri and Bindi that the film was finished, as it was the last thing Steve worked on and will remain the way he is remembered.

Bindi really takes over where her father left off in her show Bindi The Jungle Girl on the Discovery Kids Channel. In a show that began filming when Steve was still with us, Bindi continues his mission by getting children involved in wildlife and showing them that animals are to be respected and understood rather then feared. The show is said to take place in a tree house above the rain forest, with cameos by both her mother and father dropping in to talk about animal adventures. Terri understands the dangers of working with wildlife but encourages her daughter to follow her heart and walk in her father's footsteps.

Anyone can honor Steve by becoming a Wildlife Warrior through the Australia Zoo's website. In honor and memory of Steve Irwin, Australia Zoo is hosting the first annual "Steve Irwin Day" on November 7, 2007. It's said to be a day to celebrate what Steve valued most - family, animals and conservation.