STEVE IRWIN

When I talk to the camera, mate, it's not like I'm talking to the camera, I'm talking to you because I want to whip you around and plunk you right there with me.

Since I was a boy, from this house, I was out rescuing crocodiles and snakes. My mum and dad were very passionate about that and, I was lucky enough to go along.

So fear helps me from making mistakes, but I make lot of mistakes.

I'm a proud Australian, a very, very proud Australian.

Yeah, I think it's an absolute disaster that Australia, the government, allowed kangaroo culling.

Yeah, I'm a thrill seeker, but crikey, education's the most important thing.

My dad taught me from my youngest childhood memories through these connections with Aboriginal and tribal people that you must always protect people's sacred status, regardless of the past.

So now what happens is the cameras follow me around and capture exactly what I've been doing since I was a boy. Only now we have a team of, you know, like 73 of us, and it's gone beyond that.

Take the crocodile, for example, my favorite animal. There are 23 species. Seventeen of those species are rare or endangered. They're on the way out, no matter what anyone does or says, you know.

I've probably saved thousands of peoples' lives with my educational message on snake bites, how to get in around venomous anything.

Where I live if someone gives you a hug it's from the heart.

I believe our biggest issue is the same biggest issue that the whole world is facing, and that's habitat destruction.

Crikey means gee whiz, wow!

Because when they strike it can be that quick that if they're within range, you're dead, you're dead in your tracks. And his head weighs more than my body so it's WHACK!

Snakes are just very instinctive to me. I've been playing with snakes since before I could walk. It doesn't matter where or what it is, from the biggest to the most venomous.

Every cent we earn from Crocodile Hunter goes straight back into conservation. Every single cent.

Yeah, for some reason parrots have to bite me. That's their job. I don't know why that is. They've nearly torn my nose off. I've had some really bad parrot bites.

There's a lot of research behind the scenes that you don't get to see, but I have an instinct that my dad nurtured from when I was born. I was very lucky then.

You know, I'm Australian, and we have got the worst sense of humor. We are cruel to each other.

No, snakes are no problem. I'd go to any country, anywhere, any snakes, not a problem.

My belief is that what comes across on the television is a capture of my enthusiasm and my passion for wildlife.

No matter where you go and what you do in America, you turn the tele on and you're confronted with violence.

I believe sustainable use is the greatest propaganda in wildlife conservation at the moment.

Herein lies our problem. If we level that much land to grow rice and whatever, then no other animal could live there except for some insect pest species. Which is very unfortunate.

You know, you can touch a stick of dynamite, but if you touch a venomous snake it'll turn around and bite you and kill you so fast it's not even funny.