For an intelligent (although not necessarily correct in everyone's eyes) alternative view on the life and death of Steve Irwin, read what Germaine Greer had to say for The Guardian here. If you can't be bothered, or don't have the time, to read the whole things, here's her punchline:

The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin, but probably not before a whole generation of kids in shorts seven sizes too small has learned to shout in the ears of animals with hearing 10 times more acute than theirs, determined to become millionaire animal-loving zoo-owners in their turn.