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In the jaws of controversy
‘Crododile hunter’ draws fire in Australia after holding infant son while feeding reptile
BRISBANE, Australia — “Crocodile hunter” Steve Irwin’s latest stunt — feeding a large crocodile while holding his infant son — drew fire today in Australia, a visit by police and the promise of a government investigation.
Before a crowd at his reptile park in Beerwah, north of Brisbane, Irwin on Friday cradled his month-old son, Robert, under one arm and dangled a piece of chicken from the other hand in front of a 13-foot crocodile.
The croc snapped up the meat, and Irwin said “Good boy, Bob,” once the crocodile’s jaws shut, according to the tabloid Herald Sun.
The moment was captured on TV, with viewers later jamming phone lines to express outrage.
The stunt drew comparisons with singer Michael Jackson’s handling of his infant son in Berlin in November 2002.
The newspaper The Australian called Irwin’s “a bizarre act at his Sunshine Coast zoo that mirrored Michael Jackson’s dangling of his newborn over a balcony.”
Irwin defended his actions, saying the tot never was in danger. “I was in complete control of the crocodile. Robert was tucked right in my arm,” Irwin said.
His American wife, Terri, who handed the baby over to Irwin in the enclosure, agreed: “It was a wonderful sensory experience for him (the baby). He dug it.”
Police officers went to the zoo to tell Irwin people were objecting to the incident but said today he had not committed any criminal offense.
Queensland state’s Families Minister Judy Spence has called for unedited tapes of the incident.
Child support and family groups said Irwin’s behavior was almost like child abuse.
“Most parents would cringe at the sight of such things,” Bill Muehlenberg of the Australian Family Association said. “One slip, one fall and he is the crocodile’s lunch.”
Irwin’s programs are carried here by the Animal Planet network, and he starred in the popular 2002 comedy, “The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.”
Did anyone catch the morning show with matt Lauer when he interviewed Steve Irwin on this? Dude had his bases pretty well covered and did'nt let the interviewer interupt him one bit LOL!
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