Germaine Greer under fire over Irwin jibe

SYDNEY, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Feminist author Germaine Greer has come under criticism in Australia for disparaging remarks she made about the death of celebrity animal wrangler Steve Irwin.

A stingray killed Irwin Monday while filming in shallow water over the Great Barrier Reef, and Australia went into mourning. Greer, an Australian expatriate, wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian in England, saying the "animal world had finally taken its revenge on Irwin" and criticized his treatment of animals in his internationally syndicated "Crocodile Hunter" TV show.

Wednesday night on Australia's "A Current Affair" television show, host Karl Stefanovic clashed with Greer, accusing her of "just being controversial" for the sake of it, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

She also drew flak from Jonathan Wilcken, the executive director of the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria, who told Australia's The Age newspaper Greer was out of her league.

"I'm not aware of anyone who would seriously regard Dr. Greer as having any expertise in the fields of animal welfare or conservation," Wilcken told the newspaper.