John Weigel has gone against Malcom Douglas's attack on Irwin by saying Irwin is OK, because of XYZ.
Weigel's got a history of getting things wrong on cold hard scientific matters, but this case may not be so cut and dried.
Who do you believe? Weigel or Douglas. See the unedited stories from the Aussie papers below:
http://www.thewest.com.au/20040105/news/general/tw-news-general-home-sto117977.html
US fury greets Irwin's antics
LOS ANGELES
THE fury over Steve Irwin's crocodile stunt with newborn son Bob spread across the United States yesterday, with US newspapers and a Miami animal expert condemning the Crocodile Hunter.
The New York Daily News carried a front page photo of Irwin with the headline: "Steve Irwin - Australian for stupid."
The New York Post headline read: "Crocodile Shock. Irwin's Sick Baby Stunt."
The Post began its report with the question: "Has Steve Irwin gone off his croc-er?"
TV stations across the US showed footage of Irwin feeding a dead chicken to a 4m crocodile while holding one-month-old Bob with one arm.
"The video seemingly tells it all," TV reporter Candy Crowley said during her report on Los Angeles TV station KTLA.
"Steve Irwin the famous, or infamous depending on one's opinion, Croc Hunter pulling another stunt. But no one can know how Irwin's one-month-old son Bob feels as dad teases and then feeds Murray the crocodile just a short distance away.
"And for good measure, takes Bob on a waterside stroll to the crowd's delight."
Crowley's report included an interview with Miami Metrozoo herpetologist Ron Magill who branded Irwin's stunt ludicrous.
On CNN, viewers were repeatedly shown the footage of Irwin feeding the reptile while holding baby Bob.
CNN news anchor Kyra Phillips commented: "Chew on this fact. A crocodilian biology database says these reptiles can lunge at a rate of 39 feet per second, for a quarter of a second. That's fast enough to capture prey standing within one body length before it even has time to react."
Most US newspaper and TV reports compared the Irwin incident to pop star Michael Jackson's infamous balcony baby dangling controversy in Germany in 2002.
CNN said Irwin's "risky business has ignited a swarm of criticism not seen since Michael Jackson".
Irwin is a huge star in the US.
Last week, his television documentary shows aired 23 times on the much-watched US cable TV channel Animal Planet, including 15 back-to-back episodes of his Crocodile Hunter show last Wednesday.
Broome crocodile farmers Malcolm and Valerie Douglas say they felt physically sick watching the Irwin incident.
They have sent a written complaint to the Queensland Department of Workplace Health and Safety, which Mr Douglas accused of ignoring calls to ban staff from handfeeding crocodiles.
He also complained to the department some years ago when Irwin took his daughter Bindi into a crocodile enclosure for the first time.
"You don't get a second chance," Mrs Douglas said.
"There is no way to avoid a sudden attack.
"The crocodile could have turned in a second and they would not have been able to avoid it. He (Irwin) is not in control."
Crocodile hunter flees media
By Claire O'Rourke
January 5, 2004
The crocodile hunter has become the hunted. Steve Irwin, who caused an uproar when he held his baby son while feeding a saltwater crocodile on Friday, packed up his family yesterday and took his leave from his prized Australia Zoo.
"As you would well understand he is very upset by what has happened," said John Harrison, publicist for Best Picture Show, production company for Irwin's television program, The Crocodile Hunter. "He just told us he was going on holidays to have a think about it all."
Irwin (pictured) has been widely criticised for holding his son, one-month-old Bob, while feeding the crocodile before an audience at the zoo in Queensland. The resulting media frenzy ricocheted around the globe - and Irwin has told child protection officers he would not repeat the stunt. A Queensland government investigation continues.
John Weigel, owner of the Australian Reptile Park at Gosford and friend of the Irwin family, said the salty had no chance of reaching the baby.
"If that was a lion [it] could run forward and capture the child, [but] the reality of a 12-foot crocodile with tiny legs and enormous mass - it doesn't happen."
Dr Grahame Webb, adjunct professor of wildlife management at Charles Darwin University, was critical of Irwin's actions but agreed the crocodile probably could not have jumped to the baby from the position it was in. The danger would come if Irwin slipped or fell over, he said.
Mr Harrison said he did not know whether the incident had endangered lucrative television contracts and endorsements. In addition to hosting The Crocodile Hunter, which screens on the US television network Animal Planet, Irwin is the official ambassador for the Adelaide-Darwin train, The Ghan, and was paid $175,000 to star in a federal government quarantine advertising campaign.
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/04/1073151212433.html
My view? - Well I'm not a croc expert, so I'll butt out.
