PETA have copped an almighty backlash after they thought that dragging Australian conservation treasure Steve Irwin, on what would’ve been his 57th birthday, was a good idea.
On Friday, Google gave The Crocodile Hunter the ‘doodle’ treatment to celebrate the conservationist’s birthday:
CRIKEY!
Today’s #GoogleDoodle celebrates #SteveIrwin, the legendary Australian wildlife advocate & TV personality whose bravery & passion opened the eyes of millions to the wonders of wildlife. 🐊
Explore the full slideshow Doodle here → https://t.co/z8PPgDaXfr pic.twitter.com/mGtpwSuqzL
— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) February 22, 2019
Irwin died in 2006 when a stingray barb pierced his heart while diving off Port Douglas in Queensland.
Thing is, the animal rights group thought it was a perfect opportunity to tweet to its million-plus followers that Irwin “was killed while harassing a ray” and that the Google doodle “sends a dangerous, fawning message.”
#SteveIrwin was killed while harassing a ray; he dangled his baby while feeding a crocodile & wrestled wild animals who were minding their own business. Today’s #GoogleDoodle sends a dangerous, fawning message. Wild animals are entitled to be left alone in their natural habitats. https://t.co/9JfJiBhGLw
— PETA (@peta) February 22, 2019
But they didn’t stop there.
It is harassment to drag exotic animals, including babies taken from their mothers, around from TV talk shows to conferences & force them to perform as Steve Irwin did. Animals deserve to live as they want to, not as humans demand––the #GoogleDoodle should represent that.
— PETA (@peta) February 23, 2019
The internet wasted no time in responding… and it was brutal.
I supported @peta with a fixed amount of money every month.
That was until I read this tweet.
— TheFatRat (@ThisIsTheFatRat) February 23, 2019
PETA is an embarrassment to animal rights
— Zack Bornstein (@ZackBornstein) February 23, 2019
I feel it’s safe to assume that I speak for all Aussie’s when I say this, PETA you fucked up real bad and talking shit about our beautiful Steve is like a personal and vicious attack on every single Aussie……you just started war with an entire country!
— Mum thats a bad word! (@Christielee2806) February 23, 2019
— Sketchy Kay (@Glasses2themax) February 23, 2019
I’m an Australian wildlife rescue volunteer. #SteveIrwin and his family gave an awful lot of quiet, unpublicised support to organisations like mine. He was a serious conservationist & did the hard & unglamourous work required. PETA are attention-seeking posers by comparison
— Greg (@humbleminion) February 23, 2019
Delete your account https://t.co/cMben7xHNx
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) February 22, 2019
Where is your habitat for saving animals? You have a wildlife preserve anywhere? Do you have 1,000’s of acres preserving animals from extinction?
Steve Irwin spent his whole life wanting to save animals. Ya’ll are becoming “progressively” pathetic.
What a croc.
— Kambree Kawahine Koa (@KamVTV) February 23, 2019
May the spirit of Steve Irwin haunt them with possessed crocodiles…. pic.twitter.com/D0ydpwpRt9
— DeVon2112 (@DeVon_FNMfan2K8) February 23, 2019
Steve Irwin made me want to help animals.@peta makes me want to order an extra rare prime rib with a side of wings. https://t.co/4ruePclQp4
— Mike From Woburn (@MikeFromWoburn) February 22, 2019
