Steve Irwin continually worked toward diffusing awareness of the problems impacting wildlife, and along the way he inflicted compassion for species most people are quick to despise. I always wanted to meet him and possibly work with him if I was doing a project with the University of Queensland. The death of such a tremendous conservationist who relentlessly defended wildlife against social pressures is a blow to the entire world, making all conservationists pause... and breathe, but at least he died doing what he loved most.

The day of Steve's death, I wrote a long letter to Terri describing how Steve impacted me, how he inspired me to keep up my own burning passion for nature and get into school, and that it is possible to reach people on a global scale. Long ago I wrote a story about a naturalist who became like a weathered warrior as he worked to protect the national park of which he presided against encroaching threats from agriculture, mining, drilling, urban sprawl, poaching, etc., and then when the national park was finally compromised entirely, the character transformed into an avenging warrior. I wrote the story because it was how I wanted my own life to flow, and Steve has inspired me countless times to follow my ambitions even though often times people seem so stubborn you think you'll never be able to get through to them. Steve, I will continue my course and be the wildlife warrior I always knew I would be. My stinging regret is that I won't be able to work with you, but I will likely end up working with the Australia Zoo staff one day. The fire is in my eyes, Steve. I'm always plunging headlong into the forest or something, searching for lizards and insects to photograph, and speaking out publically against the mass extinction humans have ushered onto the face of the planet. I won't let you down, but as you would argue is more important, I won't let down nature. To my dying breath I will crusade for change, and even if this is a runaway extinction we've generated and it's too late, I won't go down without a fight!