He came from Down Under and gained worldwide fame, yet the Crocodile Hunter will be memorialized in Montgomery County, of all places.
Representatives of Discovery Communications have announced that the cable company will rename a garden in front of its Silver Spring headquarters for Steve Irwin, who starred on the long-running Discovery hit “Crocodile Hunter.”
In a ceremony set to occur at an unknown future date, the company will rename the garden “The Steve Irwin Memorial Sensory Garden” and add a number of appropriate details to honor Irwin, according to Animal Planet Executive Vice President and General Manager Maureen Smith.
“The garden is a beautiful place where employees can go when they want to take a break. It’s just a lovely way for them to remember there’snature in the middle of a city,” Smith told The Examiner. “We just think it’s so appropriate to name it for Steve.”
Irwin was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.
According to published reports, Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a television segment for a series called “Ocean’s Deadliest” when he swam near the stingray. A friend who was with Irwin said the animal’s barb went up and into Irwin’s chest, putting a hole in his heart. By the time a rescue helicopter arrived, he was dead.
In addition to the dedication in Silver Spring, Discovery officials also say a memorial fund is being created in Irwin’s honor to raise money for wildlife protection, education and conservation. The fund, set to be called “The Crikey Fund,” a la Irwin’s famous catch phrase, also will go toward the education of his two children.
“Steve was a larger-than-life force,” Discovery Communications’ founder and chairman John Hendricks said in a new release. “He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe.”
In terms of its programming, Animal Planet just began airing two tribute spots for Irwin. The tributes are 30- and 15-second-long segments of Irwin talking about his desire to be remembered for saving wildlife. Smith said throughout the week, Animal Planet also will show two episodes of Irwin’s show centered more on him and his life than his beloved animals at 6 nightly.
Sunday will feature a mini-marathon of specially selected “Crocodile Hunter” episodes from noon to 6 p.m.
Discovery Communications has had its headquarters in Silver Spring since February 2003. Before that, the company was headquartered in Landover, and then Bethesda.
“We are very much a Maryland company,” Smith said.
Giving back
Since a memorial fund for Steve Irwin is in the initial stages of creation, Discovery Communications officials are suggesting fans who want to give back to Irwin’s favorite causes contribute to Wildlife Warrior, the nonprofit arm of Irwin’s zoo. To find out more, visit wildlifewarriors.org.au.
