An American influencer who filmed himself wrestling crocodiles in Australia has come under fire from Bob Irwin, father of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin and a lifelong crocodile advocate. In a rare statement, which came after thrill seeker Mike Holston, aka “The Real Tarzann” came under investigation from Queensland authorities, Irwin suggested that influencers who engage in reckless stunts should have “d–khead legislation” thrown at them and be “booted out the door.” Irwin called for a crackdown on influencers after becoming concerned about a “runaway train” of content creators “encouraging and glorifying harmful wildlife interactions.” He added, “This isn’t a Steve Irwin issue. This is about an individual illegally interfering with protected fauna. Anyone who actually knows how to handle crocodiles knows they don’t respond well to capture. It’s a specialized skill to do it without causing dangerous stress and lactic acid build-up—and this bloke clearly had no clue.” Addressing the colorful name for his proposed legislation, Irwin added: “That’s exactly what content creators like the Real Tarzann are in my books: d–kheads. Because anyone who harms wildlife for fun, is.” Holston’s actions are being “actively investigated” by Australian authorities, they announced on Tuesday. Interfering with a saltwater crocodile carries an on-the-spot fine of $8,345, which can rise to a maximum of $37,000. Irwin says these fines are nothing compared to the money influencers’ videos can earn them online.
