animals

Terri Irwin’s Life With Steve Irwin — And The World’s Most Exotic Wildlife

May 14, 2025Bill Thompson

Perhaps no person in modern times has purposely sought out the world’s most exotic – and dangerous – wildlife quite like Australia’s Steve Irwin, also known as the Crocodile Hunter.

Whether it was crocodiles, venomous snakes, lions or elephants, Irwin wanted close encounters.

His companion on many of his “meet-and-greets” was his wife Terri. More than just spouses, they were partners as ambassadors to the animal kingdom.

But of course, as we know, in 2006 a stingray brought a sudden and tragic end to Steve’s life when he was just 44.

The following year Terri Irwin published a memoir, celebrating her and Steve’s life together. The book was called Steve And Me, and when Terri went on a book tour to promote it I had a chance to sit down for a few minutes with her

So here now, from 2007, Terri Irwin.

Terri Irwin is 60 now. She’s a naturalized Australian citizen, and along with the couple’s two children still operate Australia Zoo.

Celebrity Zookeeper: The Exotic Adventures of Jack Hanna

March 13, 2024Bill Thompson

Who doesn’t love going to the zoo? The chance to see wild and exotic animals up close is an experience that all ages enjoy.

But the modern zoo bears little resemblance to those you, or your parents, may remember. The cramped dirty cages that characterized the zoos of a prior era have now been replaced by more open settings that may mimic an animal’s natural habitat.

One of the principal architects of that transformation was longtime Columbus Zoo director Jack Hanna. He took over an aging and decrepit facility and turned it into a showplace, attracting thousands of visitors.

And Hanna himself became a celebrity. During the 1980s and ’90s he was on television all over the place. And he always brought an exotic animal with him.

I met him in 1989 when he wrote his memoir, called Monkeys On The Interstate.

And what animal did he bring with him the day I interviewed him? You’ll hear a Madagascar hissing cockroach.

So here now, from 1989, Jack Hanna.

Jack Hanna is 77 now, and lives with his wife in Montana. A couple of years ago he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.