[Imaginos]

The thing is, animals have been used for our amusement for centuries. Compared to fox hunting, fishing & badger baiting I don't think that some over exuberant handling can really be seen in too bad a light.

Since when has handling things become taboo? Mr Mag00 may have hit half a nail when he talks about parental concern restricting activities that came naturally to earlier generations of kids, but there is also a sense in some circles that animals are now inviolate-"look but don't touch". This is a dangerous notion, although animal welfare should be a concern it does lead to the distancing from nature described by Mr Mag00. Not for nothing is "hands-on" experience the most prized, intimacy must be fostered surely?
I'm not saying Steve Irwin didn't go too far on occasions, but think about what sort of human interaction most snakes in the world get and two words come to mind - whacked and stick, Steve showed the world that there is not as much to fear as we think from snakes, crocs etc. it is therefore ironic that he was killed by a creature who's dangers were well known, but rarely caused fatalities.

Carlj, Nicola, Matt & Maggie are all right in the need to win hearts and minds at a young age, but in our television-orientated culture we need to back up these individual efforts with real champions such as Irwin, Attenborough, Bellamy, Oddie, Durrel, Nutkins and the like to fly the flag on our goggleboxes in as many ways as possible, from considered, beautiful, artistic documentaries al la Sir David, to boisterously revelling in the joy of nature as Irwin did.