November 28, 2013

Over 5 months later, The Wild Kratts were in eastern Australia at the near the southeast corner of Queensland near a famous zoo. As they were about to meet a family who has dedicated to help wildlife.

The Irwins.

The Australia Zoo has been founded and run by the Irwin family for over 40 years now. Founded by Bob and Lyn Irwin, it was eventually run by their son, Steve, who is more famously known as the Crocodile Hunter. Steve dedicated his life to help and save animals, including crocodiles and showing people that crocodiles are more than just man-eating monsters.

In 1991, Steve met Terri who is a naturalist visiting from Oregon, and according to the couple it was love at first sight. They were engaged 4 months later, and got married on June 4, 1992. They had their first child, Bindi on July 24, 1998 as she was named after one of the Saltwater Crocodiles Steve rescued. And their son, Robert.

One day, he was joined to help Philippe Cousteau Jr, grandson of famous diver Jacques Cousteau, film a new series, Ocean's Deadliest. On September 6, 2006, while exploring Batt Reef, near Port Douglas, Queensland at the Great Barrier Reef, they came across a Short-tailed Stingray and start filming it. As they were filming it, Steve accidentally got too close, and the ray startled lashed it's stinger barb in his chest hitting his heart. And sadly didn't make it.

His funeral was 3 days later, and the Australian Zoo had a public memorial service in the Crocoseum on September 30 with some Asian Elephants joining them as they were some of Steve's favorite animals.

Steve's legacy still continues on, as he also played an elephant seal named Trev in 2006 film, Happy Feet which came out 2 months after his death. And his family still continue on with the Australia Zoo. And November 15th became Steve Irwin Day.

The Wild Kratts came to the Australia Zoo as they were joined to take part of Robert's 10th birthday.

They were in the Createrra as they were just pulling up near the Australia Zoo.

"Okay, ready?" Martin asked.

"Ready." They all said.

They start climbing out of the Createrra and unloaded a covered cage as Amber was in it. The last thing they is unwanted attention seeing a live dinosaur outside Nublar, the fewer that knew, the better. Earlier it took a while for them to had Amber go in the cage as she didn't like cages or confine spaces, but Martin manages to convince her that it wouldn't take too long and she went into the cage.

Amber lightly squawked in the covered cage.

"Don't worry, Amber." Martin assured. "It's not for too much longer."

"Martin and Chris Kratt?" A voice said.

They turned and saw Wes Mannion, who is Steve's closest friend.

"Yes." Martin and Chris said.

"I was hoping it was you." Wes said. "Wes Mannion." He then shook their hands.

"Pleasure to meet you." Chris said.

"Thanks for coming." Wes said.

"Oh, sure." Martin said. "Anything for a special occasion."

Amber was then heard lightly trilling under the covered cage.

"Well, who's this now?" Wes asked.

"Oh, that's Amber." Martin said.

Wes then lifts part of the cover and saw her. "Well I'll be." He said amazed of seeing a real dinosaur. "I wouldn't believe you if you told me you had a dinosaur with you till now."

"Yeah, Amber's been like part of the team since she hatched." Martin said.

"Okay, follow me." Wes said.

They soon followed Wes to the Wildlife Hospital.

They soon entered the hospital where they treated save and released many animals.

And they soon met Terri and 15 year old Bindi, and soon-to-be 10 year old Robert.

"Hello!" The Wild Kratts greeted.

"Hi!" Terri said. "So glad you can come."

"Sure thing." Chris said.

"And we also have someone for you to meet." Martin said.

He then pulls the cover of the cage revealing Amber.

"Oh, my gosh." Bindi said completely shocked of what she was seeing.

"This is Amber." Martin said. "And completely friendly."

Martin then unlocks the cage and Amber walks out of the cage, much of her relief.

"Hi, Amber." Bindi greeted. "You are so gorgeous."

Amber lightly trilled and allows Bindi to stroke her, and Amber started purring as Robert pets her.

"Oh, my goodness, she's purring." Bindi said.

"Yeah, Amber is often like a purring cat." Aviva said.

"So, what's the birthday plan you got?" Martin asked.

"Well, we definitely have a lot planned." Terri explained while stroking Amber's back. "But here is something that we're definitely doing."

A couple hours later, the zoo has closed for the day, and they followed Terri to one of the enclosures.

"Okay, here is actually where we have one of our well known crocodiles here." Terri said. "He was one who gave Steve and Wes a run for their money one time."

Wes was already in the enclosure and was a few paces from the pond holding a slab of meat, and stomps on the ground watching the water carefully.

"What's him doing?" Jimmy asked.

"Wes is getting the attention of the crocodile." Robert said. "This is how we do it during our shows."

"Yeah, stomping on the ground, it actually mimics how an animal would stand by the water while drinking." Chris said.

Wes stood near the water watching carefully, and soon a trail of bubbles appeared as he starts backing away. And soon a big male 13 foot long, 770 pound Saltwater Crocodile.

"This is Graham." Terri introduced the crocodile. "One of our big males here at the Australia Zoo."

And Graham as a well known history in this zoo.

Graham was caught at Townsville in north Queensland by Steve in 1988. He was hanging around by a boat ramp because fishermen there were unintentionally feeding him. As fishing frames were left after cleaning their catch as well as left-over crab bait, which was great food for him which he was young at the time. And Graham made himself at home around the area. But he was in danger of the fishermen as he was a treat to the fisherman themselves.

If Graham stays for a large amount of time, the fisherman would have killed him.

Luckily, Steve was able to catch Graham by hand, in which Graham was unaware he was helping him, he never forget or forgave Steve for catching him out of the wild. He was already 6 feet long when caught, and began to grow when he was brought to the Australia Zoo.

And there Graham has truly shown his true aggression.

As Graham grew, he was proven to be a bully to the smaller crocs as he outgrew his enclosure, as it was a sign of dominance in crocodiles. Steve decided to move Graham into another enclosure. But as Steve has a rope secured on his top jaw and was enticing him with a piece of chicken to lure him out of the water. Graham suddenly launches out so fast and hard, he passes the chicken piece and snatches Steve by his hand, and literally pulled him into the water. Luckily, Steve was able to get away after Graham lets go after Steve landing on his head, and Steve got away with all his fingers still attached. Graham was eventually moved to a new pond a couple weeks later, and Steve's hand healed. And Graham soon had a girlfriend after meeting Bindi, a female crocodile which was Steve's favorites.

Another incident happened on a night in 2001, the zoo was caught in a large storm, and Graham's pond was filled with debris. Steve and Wes went to clean the fences so they wouldn't be washed away. While cleaning Graham showed how protective and territorial he was as he snatched Wes by his right leg in the thigh. Steve quickly jumped on Graham forcing him to let go, and Wes escaped and made sure Steve was safe before he jumped out. And Graham was subdued by a wooden safety stick. Wes healed a few weeks later, and was back to feeding Graham and kept his distance from Bindi so Graham wouldn't be upset.

That incident was also called, Graham's Revenge.

"Graham sure looks like tough croc." Chris said. "He truly gave Steve a tough time."

"Oh, he did." Bindi said.

"And here's something truly amazing." Robert said. "I'll be feeding him during the show on my birthday."

"Whoa!" Martin said amazed. "That's amazing."

"I know, I'm so stoked about it." Robert said.

"Well, let's hope Graham will go easy on you." Aviva said.

December 1, 2013

The day has finally arrived as Robert was now 10, and lots of people have come. And one of the traditions they do every year is introducing a model of a prehistoric animal.

The crowd watches Robert, Bindi, Terri and the Wild Kratts start pulling a black cover, and soon revealed the model.

A model of a Deinosuchus snatching a young Parasaurolophus.

Deinosuchus was a Cretaceous crocodile, a Supercroc. Reaching over 30 feet long, and weighing 5 tons, it was the 2nd biggest crocodile to ever existed. Second only to Sarcosuchus. Deinosuchus was so big, that it hunted dinosaurs.

And everyone clamored in amazement and they all clapped an applause.

"Crikey." Terri said amazed.

"Holy moly." Robert said.

"Incredible." Koki said.

"This is from an era when crocodilians meant business." Terri said.

"Yes." Robert said. "Crocs ate dinosaurs."

"I didn't think crocs could get that big." Aviva said stunned.

"So what do we have here?" Chris said.

"So the 2 animals we got here, we've got a Deinosuchus." Robert said gesturing to the Deinosuchus model. "Which is a crocodilian, it's a prehistoric crocodilian. And it's, uh, it was really, really big. It grew to about 10 to 11 meters long. And then this here, is a Parasaurolophus. So the Parasaurolophus is really cool, yeah this is actually a juvenile Parasaurolophus. So they got way bigger than this one here. So it's hard to imagine that there's animals that were that big, it's really, really cool."

Later in the day, they were all in the Crocoseum as Robert was getting ready to feed Graham.

He has already done a practice run with a young American Alligator, and Terri asked one favor of Robert not to pick Graham up.

Wes was by the edge of the water of the pool, stomping his foot to get Graham's attention. Graham stalks his way towards the edge as Wes quickly backs away, and another keeper held some meat out as Graham hauls himself out of the water. The keeper backs away as Graham followed him, and soon he gives Graham a piece of meat.

At a stand, Bindi even fed Graham as well as he lunges straight up from the water. In the wild, crocodiles have been known to snatch flying foxes from branches.

Soon the moment of truth arrived, it was Robert's turn as he stomped the ground as Graham was near the edge. Wes was next to Robert as Graham crawls out of the water, and they started backing away and Robert continues stomping his foot as well as holding a piece of meat out for him. Graham follows them as they backed away, and soon Robert tossed a piece of meat to Graham, and he grabs it in his jaws and tossed it down into his throat to swallow.

"Well done." Terri said. "Well done, Robert."

The entire Crocoseum clapped.

Soon, Graham crawls back into the water.

And soon, another keeper appeared with a pig leg tied to it. And Graham soon snatched it as the keeper on it, and Graham acting on instinct does a death roll.

Steve would definitely be proud.

Dedicated
to
Steve Irwin

1962 - 2006

Author's Note:

Since I was younger, I've been watching every series showing Steve and his family, The Crocodile Hunter, Croc Files, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, even the movie The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, and as well as Crikey! It's the Irwins. I even saw Ocean's Deadliest.

I hope that someday I'll visit Australia and meet them.

Last thing: I just happen to hear recently, that Wild Kratts will be showing a feature film eventually.