People are getting 'revenge" on Stingrays!

[Disney1fan2002]

I heard on the news yesterday, that Steve Irwin's wildlife charity is pleading for people to stop killing stingrays. Since his death, 10 Stingrays have been found dead in the Queensland area some with their tails cut off.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/12/irwin.stingrays.ap/index.html

 

[Papa Deuce]

The "funny" part is that Steve Irwin wouldn't even be mad at the stingrays. So why should other people be?

 

[LoraJ]

That's pathetic and sick!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I heard that yesterday. So upsetting. Steve wouldn't have wanted that. Not to mention the stingray was just doing what it was designed for...it's a survival mechanism. It's not like it was TRYING to kill someone.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

You know what, that's just flippin' stupid!! G-d gave animals defense mechanisms for a reason! They defend themselves when they have to. It's been said several times, that the stingray that killed Steve felt trapped and protected itself! END OF DISCUSSION!!! I work in a zoo, so it kills me when people do stupid things to animals. You know what, why don't I gather up every Jewish person I know (I'm close with a few Jews) and we go out and kill every single German out there. I mean damn Hitler in the holocaust!!! I can't get to Hitler, but I'll just kill all the other Germans for taking away my Jewish friends and their families!!! Do you see the logic in that? How STUPID that sounds??!! And that's how it sounds that these people are killing OTHER stingrays that had nothing to do with Steve's death! I apologize if I offened anyone, not my intention, that just really pisses me off!!!

Steve WOULD NOT have wanted that.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that this is senseless. Steve of all people would have understood why the stingray reacted as it did and this would sadden him.

People can be so goofy sometimes.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Oh, how awful!!

When I think of stingrays I think of our excursion at Grand Cayman where we swam with and fed the stingrays. They are just beautiful, soft-as-velvet, docile creatures. We held them in our arms, kissed them, petted them. Now I know they are different than those in the wild, as they know people are there to feed them.

I just can't imagine people killing them, because of the tragic accident Steve had with one. So sad.

 

[HonestAbe]

I dont think it's revenge on the stingray population as much as some demented individual trying to get attention and what better way to do it then like this right after his death?

One of the best experiences in my life was swimming with the stingrays in Grand Cayman.

 

[momof2inPA]

That's bizarre. Maybe people are just scared of them, now???

 

[noodleknitter]

Good grief! That just breaks my heart! Why can't people think before they act?

 

[4nana]

How sad it is to blame the poor stringrays for defending themselves?! Did I read where the one that stung Steve was put down?

Like others have mentioned, one of the best memories of any of our vacations was our 40th Annv. cruise to Grand Cayman and our adventure swimming, feeding, petting and photo opt holding stringrays, while dozens of the peaceful stringrays swarmed around us. People are scared now and I'm thinking this excursion will come to a slow hault for while.

 

[phisigprincess]

It seems like people are using this as a catharsis of sorts. It's quite sad. The last thing the Crocodile Hunter would have wanted was "retrobution" for his death.

 

[palmtreegirl]

What is wrong with those people? That's sick.

 

[U2_rocks!]

How bizarre .... just as I was reading this, the same story came over the news! So I was reading and listening to it at the same time!

Anyway, I am sad for the stingrays, I think they are lovely creatures, and I'm sorry that some people are so upset that they would resort to taking it out on these fine animals. There is always a risk when interacting with wild creatures (as opposed to "tame" ones in a feeding and petting environment), and Steve knew this and made his choice. I'm so sorry he was killed that way, and I am NOT saying "serve him right", but he of all people knew what he was getting into, and would not have wanted people to react this way.

 

[SandrainNC]

Steve definitely would not have wanted this!! I did read, however, that they aren't sure if it is retaliation or fear. Also, what I read said sometimes fishermen cut their tails off so they don't get hit with the barb. Whatever the reason though, it is wrong.

Sandra

 

[Imzadi]

I think it would help if they stopped calling Steve Irwin's death an "accident". I'm not sure what to call it but, Steve got too close for the Stingray's comfort & it felt it needed to protect itself. It reacted instinctively & defensively. The tail wasn't just flapping around. As unpopular a view as it is, Steve had some responsibility in his death.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Anyway, I am sad for the stingrays, I think they are lovely creatures, and I'm sorry that some people are so upset that they would resort to taking it out on these fine animals. There is always a risk when interacting with wild creatures (as opposed to "tame" ones in a feeding and petting environment), and Steve knew this and made his choice. I'm so sorry he was killed that way, and I am NOT saying "serve him right", but he of all people knew what he was getting into, and would not have wanted people to react this way.

I agree. He knew his job had risks. I didn't always agree with the risks he took, but that was his choice. It was his life.

Stingrays are beautiful creatures and they're very docile. It was just a freak accident. It's so sad that he died, but I believe the last thing he'd want would be his death causing harm to wildlife.

 

[RadioNate]

I think it would help if they stopped calling Steve Irwin's death an "accident". I'm not sure what to call it but, Steve got too close for the Stingray's comfort & it felt it needed to protect itself. It reacted instinctively & defensively. The tail wasn't just flapping around. As unpopular a view as it is, Steve had some responsibility in his death.

It was a freak thing though. Stingray barbs generally don't KILL humans. Yes they might cut you up and the poison will be very painful but they don't kill.

I didn't open this article but I read about this on another board. It said something like there have only been 17 stingray related deaths EVER.

It was just a flukey thing.

Usually when a stingray protects itself from a human the human might be injured but it is VERY VERY rare that the human would die.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

The "funny" part is that Steve Irwin wouldn't even be mad at the stingrays. So why should other people be?

Too true. That is horrible. People, these days. What's wrong with them?!

 

[Cantw8]

I think it would help if they stopped calling Steve Irwin's death an "accident". I'm not sure what to call it but, Steve got too close for the Stingray's comfort & it felt it needed to protect itself. It reacted instinctively & defensively. The tail wasn't just flapping around. As unpopular a view as it is, Steve had some responsibility in his death.

as much as I loved the guy, I have to agree with you
Killing these animals for some bizzare sense of revenge is just illogical