Steve Irwin, known to kids and couch potatoes worldwide as “The Crocodile Hunter,” died this past weekend in a freak accident with a stingray while filming a TV documentary. His death-defying, boa constrictor-wrestling theatrics, manchild enthusiasm, and booming exclamations of “Crikey!” were the inspiration for countless unfunny TV parodies and loud, embarrassing office party imitations. They also launched a cable channel, Animal Planet, and made its parent company, Discovery Network, a television powerhouse. While his overly bold liberties with dangerous wildlife may be a reflection of today’s short-attention-spanned, desensitized, “Ow, My Balls!”-craving TV audiences, passion for wildlife conservation rather than TV ratings seemed to be Irwin’s personal motivation.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard called him “a passionate environmentalist” and Irwin himself said, in 2003, “I consider myself a wildlife warrior. My mission is to save the world's endangered species.” He bought large tracts of land the world over which he described as “like national parks,” spoke fervently against illegal poaching and stressed that everybody could make a difference. He founded numerous conservation groups, including, not surprisingly, the International Crocodile Rescue.

Though he was serious about protecting wildlife, not everyone appreciated his boisterous, hiking-boot-stomping approach to it, and in 2004 he was investigated, and later cleared, of disturbing humpback whales, seals and penguins while filming in Antarctica.

British naturalist David Bellamy said he cried when heard of Irwin's death. "The thing with Steve was he mixed damn good science with show business and I don't know anyone else who did that," Bellamy said.

Irwin was a powerful force of nature, and in his wake, along with what will undoubtedly be a massive avalanche of Discovery Network tribute shows, is a generation of children with a knowledge and appreciation for nature’s beautiful, dangerous, and fragile creatures.

“Conservationists mourn Crocodile Hunter” (Yahoo)

“Steve Irwin, Wildlife Master, Is Killed by a Stingray at 44” (NYT)

“He’s Smart, By Crikey” (The Age)

And if those well-researched and intelligent tributes don't fully bring home the force of this tragedy for you:

“Kelly Ripa Breaks News Of Steve Irwin's Death To Her Children” (KRON 4 News)