Steve Irwin, host of Animal Planet's series "The Crocodile Hunter," holds a rattle snake during Nickelodeon's 15th annual Kids' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California in April 20, 2002.(Reuters file photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Tributes have flooded in from around the world for Steve Irwin, a legendary Australian "Crocodile Hunter" who will be offered a state funeral.

    Steve Irwin, 44, the daredevil wildlife documentarian, is killed in a stingray attack while filming on the Great Barrier Reef on Monday.   

    As fans and media mourned the death of the irrepressible naturalist who became Australia's best-known ambassador, the premier of northeastern Queensland state, where Irwin lived and died, offered him a state funeral.

    "We will honor Steve Irwin in whatever way his family wants," said Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

    " ... We will approach the family and we would obviously be keen to honor him in some sort of way from the Queensland Government point of view, from the state's point of view, but we would only do that with the family's approval," the Premier added.

    Australian movie star Russell Crowe, Prime Minister John Howard meanwhile joined thousands of stunned fans in paying homage to Irwin.

   "I believed in him. I'll miss him," the Oscar-winning star of such films as "Gladiator" and "A Beautiful Mind" said of Irwin, who is believed to have died instantly.

    As Irwin's friend, Crowe noted, "He was the Australian we all aspire to be," adding he was and remains "the ultimate wildlife warrior."

    John Howard echoed the sentiments of many of his fellow Australians, saying the country had lost "a wonderful and colorful son."       

   Irwin's manager and friend John Stainton said "Irwin died doing what he loved -- filming life in the wild."

   Wildlife conservation groups and experts also paid tribute to Irwin.

   The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) hailed him as a "modern-day Noah." 

   "His loss will be felt by animal lovers not just in Australia, but all over the world," Said RSPCA Queensland chief executive Mark Townend.

   Queensland Museum director Dr. Ian Galloway described Irwin as "a dedicated naturalist who was actively committed to highlighting the plight of threatened species, and championing the cause of conservation."

    "Steve Irwin was a special person whose energy and enthusiasm encouraged a whole new audience to better understand and become involved in conservation and science," he also said, adding "he will be sorely missed."

    Newspapers around the world carried front-page reports on Irwin's grisly death and on his life as a passionate environmental crusader and global media star. Enditem

   (Agencies)

"Crocodile Hunter" killed by stingray

    BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhuanet)-- The popular Australian television personality and environmentalist, Steve Irwin --known as the "Crocodile Hunter" -- was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off north Queensland, Australian media said. >>>