‘Crocodile Hunter’ seeks Las Vegas zoo

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.

Australian "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin is apparently looking at Las Vegas as a potential site for a new zoo.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Thursday that he met with a representative for Irwin last week to discuss bringing a zoo here.

"They want to start a zoo here," Goodman said, adding that he thinks Cashman Field would be a good place for Irwin to have a zoo.

The mayor said discussions with Irwin's representatives are "very, very embryonic."

Irwin, known as the "Crocodile Hunter", is known for wrestling crocodiles and other reptiles. He has his television show "The Crocodile Hunter," in which he and wife, Terri, film their encounters with wildlife including deadly snakes and lizards. According to accounts in the Australian media, Irwin is considering bringing his show to the Las Vegas Strip.

Last year a private group looked into putting a zoo at the Floyd Lamb State Park, but later dropped the idea after their consultant told them a large zoo wouldn't work without a subsidy.