Steve Irwin fans have allegedly been have been killing stingrays in a series of revenge attacks for his death.
At least ten dead fish - several with their venomous barbed tails hacked off - were discovered on beaches in the eastern state of Queensland, Australia.
Wildlife conservation experts believe the slaughter is a backlash over the death of the TV star, who died after a stingray’s barb pierced his chest last Monday (04.09.06).
Michael Hornby, who runs Irwin’s conservation group the Wildlife Warrior fund, said: "We are disgusted and disappointed that people would take this sort of action to hurt wildlife.
"It may be some sort of retribution, or it may be fear from certain individuals, or it may be just another callous act. That’s the last thing Steve would want." Shortly after the wildlife expert’s death, it was suggested that Irwin’s attempt to save his own life by tearing the stingray barb out of his own chest was probably what killed him.
Stingrays, dubbed the ‘pussycats of the sea’, are usually placid creatures and only attack in self-defence.
Irwin’s death is only the third stingray fatality in Australian waters.
© bangshowbiz.biz
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