When I first read this I thought it was from the Onion. But no, it turns out to be for real.
It appears that some person or persons in Australia are seeking vengence for naturalist Steve Irwin’s death by killing stingrays. No, not that stingray–the one that stung him in the heart and was responsible for his death–but stingrays in general:
Up to eight stingrays were found with their tails removed on Sept. 11 on Dundowran Beach, near the Queensland tourist resort of Hervey Bay…
Then, again, perhaps it wasn’t murder. Or maybe it’s the motive that’s in question.
There is no evidence that the stingrays were killed as an act of revenge following Irwin’s death, Kirsten Phillips, a media spokeswoman for the department, said in a phone interview. Officers are looking into the possibility, she added.
I’m not sure how officers would investigate this particular crime. Forensic evidence would seem scarce. Hidden cameras? Informants? Moles?
[ADDENDUM: Singrays themselves look rather cloaked, spylike, and clandestine, not to mention sinister. Here’s a photo:
As for moles, I nominate the eel.]
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely
September 13th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
More likely they were collected by someone planning to sell “Steve Irwin’s Stingray Tail of Death!”
September 13th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
It’s pretty hard to believe that fans of conservationist Irwin are killing animals for revenge. I’d believe the Trimegistus’ theory first.
September 13th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
It *may* be a reaction to his death simply because sting rays might be viewed as more dangerous than before his death. A *fan* wouldn’t be likely to have the mindset that dangerous animals should be killed, even if quite a few other people do.
And I agree, selling sting ray stingers seems like a plausible motivation.
September 14th, 2006 at 1:04 am
I’m having trouble believing it’s anything other than coincidence, that the mutilations were committed for reasons other than revenge. While not unliked by most, Irwin wasn’t that popular in Australia, not so much that his death would inspire fans to do this. Besides, pretty much all of his fans realize that Irwin himself would be appalled at the thought that this might be revenge.
To be blunt, I think this is a manufactured story. Someone probably took the very real finds of dead, tail-hacked rays and asked Irwin’s manager or business associates what they’d think if these were revenge killings, and that’s what’s busted out in the news: Revenge Killings. Everything else after that has been nothing but hype and the echo chamber effect.
September 14th, 2006 at 2:42 am
“To be blunt, I think this is a manufactured story.”
I think ElMondoHummus has hit the nail squarely on the head.
September 14th, 2006 at 8:39 am
I wrote a post about it on my blog, too…
September 14th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Hey, Roy, don’t you go around accusing me of abusing nails! Who’m I avenging? Jesus?
