# croc hunter dangles baby **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 3, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397 "2004-01-03T00:09:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/1 "2004-01-03T00:09:24Z")
Am i missing another thread that has bene started about this? If so, just tell me where it is and ignore this thread. I figured the Pit was the place. They showed the Croc hunter holding his infant boy in one hand, croc food in the other and threw it to a croc a few feet away. people say this is endangering his child. Yes?No? ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/2 "2004-01-03T00:19:01Z")
It would be the thread right above yours, started by **World Eater** - and I’ll vote NO. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/3 "2004-01-03T00:28:26Z")
[Link to other thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=232787) I vote no, too. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/4 "2004-01-03T00:38:12Z")
Well,how was I supposed to know? The title was totally non descriptive! ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/5 "2004-01-03T00:54:29Z")
You been to the Australia Zoo? Those enclosures are small and I don’t see how Irwin could safely rely on being able to use a stick to fend off the croc if it lunged for the baby. I vote he was an idiot who risked his baby unnecessarily. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/6 "2004-01-03T01:07:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Primaflora \* > \*\*You been to the Australia Zoo? Those enclosures are small and I don’t see how Irwin could safely rely on being able to use a stick to fend off the croc if it lunged for the baby. I vote he was an idiot who risked his baby unnecessarily. \*\* He had zillions of croc handlers surrounding the area, that’s how. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/7 "2004-01-03T01:18:18Z")
he had what? Zillions of croc handlers? You know this how? I think you’d get a bit of a shock if you went to the Australia Zoo. Anyway these hypothetical zillions of croc handlers? Explain to me what use they would be outside the chickenwire fence? If that croc lunged, Bob would be swallowed before anyone could get to him. It was dumb, dumb, dumb and totally unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/8 "2004-01-03T01:33:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Primaflora \* > \*\*It was dumb, dumb, dumb and totally unnecessary. \*\* Not unlike 90% of what Irwin does for the camera… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/9 "2004-01-03T01:34:11Z")
Oh, there’s another thread over in MPSIMS, too . . ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/10 "2004-01-03T01:49:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Primaflora \* > \*\*he had what? Zillions of croc handlers? You know this how? I think you’d get a bit of a shock if you went to the Australia Zoo. > > Anyway these hypothetical zillions of croc handlers? Explain to me what use they would be outside the chickenwire fence? If that croc lunged, Bob would be swallowed before anyone could get to him. > > It was dumb, dumb, dumb and totally unnecessary. \*\* “Lunged”? It’s a crocodile. It’s legs are about three inches long. How far can a croc lunge on dry land? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/11 "2004-01-03T01:56:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*“Lunged”? It’s a crocodile. It’s legs are about three inches long. How far can a croc lunge on dry land? \*\* Do you even watch the show? A crocodile is a fuck of a lot faster than most people think. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/12 "2004-01-03T02:01:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > \*\*Do you even watch the show? A crocodile is a fuck of a lot faster than most people think. \*\* Not on dry land, they’re not. They’re built to perform in the water, which they do admirably. On land, they’re not much threat. ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/13 "2004-01-03T02:03:21Z")
I vote no, further adding that his son was probably safer than the people in the audience. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/14 "2004-01-03T02:06:24Z")
I can’t figure why he named him Bob! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/15 "2004-01-03T02:09:35Z")
Maybe it’s his uncle? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/16 "2004-01-03T02:10:26Z")
**vanilla** , the man named his daughter Bindi-Sue. Bob is downright normal. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/17 "2004-01-03T02:11:42Z")
Dammit, **JDeMobray** , I almost posted that Steve was planning an elaborate set-up for a continuing family joke, and when Bindi-Sue has kids, Steve can tell them that Bob’s their uncle… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/18 "2004-01-03T02:11:51Z")
I wonder if the folk at Cirque de Soleil could get away with juggling one-month-olds on the high wire? They _are_ highly experienced and skilled professionals, after all. While I accept that Irwin knows his crocodiles, the risk-to-reward ratio is far too high to justify the action. Irwin was grandstanding and that’s no reason to risk a child’s life, experience notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/19 "2004-01-03T02:12:53Z")
Apparently [some crocs can get some speed on](http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/safari/crocs/expert/expert2.html), but Irwin wasn’t that far away. It wouldn’t have taken the croc long to get to him if it was so inclined. No matter how well Irwin “knew” the croc and how many handlers were around, it was a ridiculous risk and one that was wholly unnecessary. The child was endangered because of the unpredictable nature of the situation, and frankly, is further endangered by being in the care of someone who is stupid enough to think that this was a good idea. If Irwin wants to hang around with beasts at his own peril all his life, that’s one thing. But the child cannot make those decisions for himself, and shouldn’t be exposed to such dangers as a helpless infant just because his father is some nitwit who thinks that it’s a whack of fun to go sneaking up on [animals who can maim or kill with their bite](http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/safari/crocs/expert/expert10.html). ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397/20 "2004-01-03T02:18:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Not on dry land, they’re not. They’re built to perform in the water, which they do admirably. On land, they’re not much threat. \*\* Crocs on land can get up to 10.5 MPH - but those would be the skinny, fast ones. And let’s assume Steve was fully educated as to the nature of the croc before him - it was a big 'un. Animal Planet website! [http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/safari/crocs/photo/photo.html](http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/safari/crocs/photo/photo.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/croc-hunter-dangles-baby/222397.md?page=2)