Terri Irwin said to have spoken to Discovery five years ago about husband's wish to be filmed at all cost The footage of Irwin's death is his ultimate message to us of the ruthlessness and power that we admire and fear in nature. His programmes were not for the squeamish, but portrayed wild animals capable of killing a man. Irwin spent much of his life bringing to a wider public a vision of 'nature red in tooth and claw', no fluffy bunnies or cute kittens here.

So, let us ask: who would want to watch the footage of Irwin's fatal encounter with a stingray? Perhaps those for whom Irwin's programmes revealed a world whose creatures fascinate us partly because of their dangerousness and unpredictability. The footage of Irwin's final film can in itself be regarded as a necessary part of our education: these animals are dangerous, and fooling around with them can be deadly. Up till now we have witnessed Irwin sporting with crocodiles, poisonous snakes and tarantulas, always emerging unscathed and as lively as ever. Irwin's tragic death can be regarded as a poignant reminder of the fact that this kind of work involves severe risks. He was willing to 'tease' or provoke animals so that viewers could see what happens when a crocodile or snake goes into attack mode. While his documentaries were undoubtedly sensational and highly entertaining, his aim was also to enlighten viewers about the animals he interacted with, their behaviour when threatened, and their means of defence.

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