By JEROME STARKEY
September 13, 2006
REVENGE mobs were slammed last night for slaughtering stingrays and hacking off their TAILS in a backlash over the death of croc hunter Steve Irwin.
The Aussie showman died last week after a stingrays 12ins barbed tail pierced his heart sparking a massive outpouring of grief from fans.
But his conservation group Wildlife Warriors pleaded for calm after mutilated stingray corpses were discovered on beaches in Queensland, Australia.
Many of the fish had their venomous tails sliced off as if in retribution for the killing of Irwin, 44.
The groups executive director Michael Hornby insisted Irwin would never have condoned the cruel massacre.
Mr Hornby, who was a close friend of the TV star, said: We are disgusted and disappointed that people would take this sort of action to hurt wildlife.
It may be some sort of retribution, or it may be fear from certain individuals, or it just may be yet another callous act. Thats the last thing Steve would want.
Australias state fisheries department confirmed officials had found ten dead stingrays since Irwin died.
The fish were discovered on two beaches not far from his zoo in Beerwah, north of Brisbane.
But wildlife experts believe dozens more have fallen victim to Irwin avengers along the massive Sunshine Coast.
The killers could face prosecution under Queenslands Animal Care and Protection Act.
Fisheries spokesman Wayne Sumpton said fishermen who catch the rays by mistake sometimes cut off their tails to avoid being stung, but the practice is uncommon.
Conservationists fear the killings may have been inspired by an internet computer game, which shows Irwins wife Terri killing stingrays.
Poison from the normally docile fishs tail is lethal to small creatures but rarely kills humans although it causes excruciating pain.
Irwins funeral took place at the weekend and a public memorial service is to take place this week.
Not to sure what to make of this