NOTE: This is an automatic reply based on certain words in your e-mail to PETA. Due to the large volume of mail that we receive, we are unable to respond to each e-mail personally, so we hope you will forgive this form letter, and expect that this reply will cover the most pressing questions and concerns you may have. We read all mail and will respond separately to concerns not addressed by this reply.
Thank you for contacting PETA.
The death of Steve Irwin is truly sad, and we have sympathy for his family during this difficult time. But from PETA’s perspective, Irwin was not always a great friend to animals, and he often did more harm than good.
Please know that it was not our intention to be disrespectful by speaking out at this time. However, one of PETA’s primary aims is to raise awareness of how animals suffer when people use them for entertainment (http://www.PETA.org/actioncenter/entertainment.asp). Because the media is glorifying and misrepresenting the way Irwin interacted with animals, it’s vital that we set the record straight right now, while this story is still in the news. PETA found it necessary to speak frankly about how, in the name of entertainment, animals were often mistreated by Irwin during his career, so it would be disingenuous for us to say otherwise following his death.
Irwin’s television program typically involved invading animals’ natural environments to agitate, harass, harangue, upset, and disturb wildlife. He also subjected animals to the stress of public appearances and television shows, where they could not understand what was going on. It’s important to keep in mind that when wild animals appear on television shows or are used in photo ops, they are typically being forced into frightening, loud, and stressful situations for no reason other than to bring publicity to an animal trainer or handler.
Although Irwin’s verbal message of animal conservation was often on target, his actions spoke louder than his words. He undoubtedly encouraged others to keep wild animals as pets and to mishandle and harass animals in the wild. Now we're receiving word that stingrays are being killed and mutilated, apparently by distraught Irwin fans in some sort of twisted revenge, illustrating his failure to set an example of true respect for wildlife.
For more thoughts on this subject, please see http://www.HelpingAnimals.com/f-wildlifewarriors.asp and http://www.guardian.co.uk/australia/story/0,,1865124,00.html. For tips on how you can help wildlife, please visit http://www.HelpingAnimals.com/wildlife.asp.
Thanks again for writing and for sharing your thoughts with us.
Sincerely,
The PETA Staff
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