Has Steve Irwin gone off his croc-er?
The “Crocodile Hunter” – famous for poking, prodding and taunting reptiles on TV – took his antics a step further yesterday, offering a 13-foot crocodile a dead chicken while holding his infant son.
In a bizarre act that recalled Michael Jackson’s bizarre stunt of dangling of his baby over a hotel balcony in 2002 in Germany, Irwin fed a raw chicken to a crocodile named Murray with one hand while holding 1-month-old son Bob in the other.
The crocodile’s sharp jaws snapped up the chicken, as Irwin and his son looked on.
“Good boy, Bob,” Irwin shouted to the stunned crowd. “He’s one month old, so it’s about time Bob got out there and did his first croc demo.”
Irwin then took his son by the arms and pretended to have him walk away from the reptile and toward a small pool.
Irwin performed the stunt – billed as his tiny son’s “croc-feeding debut” – before a crowd of gasping onlookers at his Sunshine Coast Zoo in Brisbane, Australia.
The act – televised worldwide – quickly sparked outrage from advocates for children.
The Australian Family Association called Irwin’s conduct “child abuse” as Australian TV and radio talk shows were jammed with callers who wanted to express their disapproval.
“I don’t think we should use children as props and definitely not in situations that are going to put them in such danger,” said the group’s spokesman, Joe Tucci.
Authorities said they had received complaints from viewers about the incident.
This is not the first time Irwin’s kids have been exposed to wild animals. His 5-year-old daughter, Bindi, was recently spotted swimming with a giant python.
Irwin later defended his behavior and said his son was never in danger.
“This kid has to grow up to be croc-savvy,” he said. “I guess what I am doing is teaching him to be completely familiar with crocodiles. There’s no way known I would ever endanger my child.”
Irwin’s wife, Terri, attended the show and called it a “wonderful sensory experience” for her son.
“He dug it,” she said.
Irwin’s worldwide hit TV show, “The Crocodile Hunter,” served as the basis for the 2002 film “The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.” – With Post Wire Services