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Irwin was discussing SA deal
05/09/2006 10:22 - (SA)
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| A wooden crocodile outside Australia Zoo at Beerwah is decorated with flowers as a tribute to environmentalist Steve Irwin. (Steve Holland, AP) |
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Beerwah - Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was in talks about a new deal bringing together animal conservation groups in five Asian countries and South Africa before he died, it emerged on Tuesday.
Michael Hornby, the head the Wildlife Warriors, one of the Irwin family's conservation charities, said he last spoke with Irwin two weeks ago about the deal.
"I call it the Irwin factor," said Hornby. "We linked with on-the-ground agencies in those countries, and Steve made it all happen.
"He was adamant that we not get bogged down in bureaucracy - that the money got there quickly and without fuss."
Tributes
Meanwhile, hundreds of people journeyed on Tuesday to Australia Zoo, the Outback wildlife park and home of the television presenter and conservationist in the southeast of Australia's Queensland state.
Irwin, known worldwide as television's The Crocodile Hunter was killed by a stingray's barb while filming on the Great Barrier Reef on Monday, in what experts and officials said was a freak accident.
'Devastated'
People thronged around the entrance, which opened after a staff meeting to discuss what came next for attraction Irwin turned from a small family-owned reptile park into a wildlife preserve attracting many thousands of tourists a year.
"We're all devastated," said Gail Gipp, the park's hospital wildlife manager.
"It is very surreal at the moment. We're are determined to carry on what he would have wanted. When it came time to discuss whether we would open today, we felt the only answer was yes, he would've wanted that."
'You made the world a better place'
Hundreds of bouquets and wreaths were laid at the park entrance, near a billboard featuring Irwin holding a crocodile in his arms and his catchcry, "Crikey!"
"Mate, you made the world a better place," read one poster left at the gate. "Steve, our hero, our legend, our wildlife warrior," read another. "I thought you were immortal. How I wish that was true," said a third.
Family keeping low profile
Zoo marketing director Peter Lang said Irwin's wife, Terri, daughter Bindi, 8, and son Bob, 2, arrived late on Monday from Tasmania, where they had been holidaying, and were maintaining a low profile at their home near the zoo.
"We're just giving them a bit of peace and quiet today," said Lang.
'We'll never replace Steve'
Hornby said he had no illusions about how tough it will be without Irwin.
"We'll never replace Steve," he said. "He was a wonderful guy. He was part of the family, like he came out of the television set and into your living room. That's why there's been such an outpouring of emotion here and around the world. Everybody thought they knew him."
- AP
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