Australian celebrity crocodile hunter Steve Irwin was cleared of breaking the law by getting too close to whales and penguins while filming a documentary in Antarctica.
The
Australian government's environment department launched an
investigation in June, examining 18 hours of unedited footage,
after complaints Irwin breached laws forbidding interaction with
Antarctic animals such as whales, seals and penguins last
year.
Irwin was filmed in the Antarctic taking a dip with two giant
humpback whales, playing around with penguins and lounging with
leopard seals. He denied riding a whale, saying he was just
"bobbing around" in the water when the whales came up to him.
Prime Minister John Howard said the investigation had now been
completed and Irwin cleared of any misconduct during the filming of
his documentary "Ice Breaker" that has already been screened in the
United States.
"I have been told that no action of any kind is necessary," Howard
said.
Interacting with Antarctic wildlife is illegal and swimming with
whales is banned - with breaches of the law attracting fine of up
to $A1million and two years in jail.
This was the second time this year that Irwin - whose television
show The Crocodile Hunter has achieved international success - has
found himself in trouble with the authorities.
Earlier this year the effervescent, khaki-clad Irwin triggered
outrage when he held his one-month-old baby in one arm while
feeding a snapping crocodile during a show at his Australian Zoo in
the east coast state of Queensland.
