CANBERRA, Australia, June 14 (UPI) -- Australia's best-known crocodile hunter has taken a shine to whales in Antarctica, to the great irritation of various wildlife and environment advocates.
Steve Irwin's newest documentary, filmed in Antarctica, showed him allegedly swimming with whales in a protected area, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Monday.
Sharman Stone, parliamentary secretary to Australia's environment minister, says her department plus the Australian Antarctic division are investigating claims from people who have seen Irwin in a television promotion in the United States.
"It's suggested that he may have been jumping in and getting very close and personal with some whales," she said.
Stone says it is also alleged Irwin had been tobogganing with penguins.
If Irwin is found to have breached Antarctic regulations, he could be fined, a prospect that did not appear to trouble him.
"All I know is Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Steve Irwin, Jacques Cousteau, Sir David Attenborough, mate, we are the people that are filming the whales, taking it to you so as you understand the beauty of the animal," he said.
"If we can get them into your hearts then we may be able to stop whaling."
