Content creator and conservationist Graham “Dingo” Dinkelman died Saturday from a venomous snake bite, his wife Kirsty said. He was 44.
Dinkelman was allergic to snake venom and the bite sent him into immediate anaphylactic shock, she said in an Instagram post on Sept. 30.
Dinkelman, known as “South Africa’s Steve Irwin,” spent a month in intensive care in an induced coma before he died, Kirsty said in a statement posted to Dinkelman’s Instagram on Thursday.3
“While Dingo was known for his involvement with snakes and other reptiles, his compassion extended to all creatures,” Kirsty said. “There was a special place in his heart for African mammals, his favourites being elephants, rhinos and lions, as well as our own giraffe, Elliot. But it was really his love for his family that always drove his purpose, drive and passion.” He and his wife are survived by three children: Taylor, 14, Maddy, 12 and Rex, 9.
“One of Dingo’s greatest joys was that his family worked so closely with him. Our three children … were essential to Dingo, who never missed an opportunity to express his love and pride for his family,” Kirsty said.
As of Friday, Dinkelman’s YouTube channel had 111,000 subscribers and his Instagram account had nearly 650,000 followers. His videos often featured him handling poisonous snakes, showing crocodiles and caring for the family’s giraffe. Dinkelman’s videos also showcased his conservation work, including dehorning rhinos, collaring elephants, translocating lions and working with some of the world’s most endangered species.
He once said, “My passion, my calling, the reason I’m on this earth, is to help people connect with animals. I’ve always believed that we need to convert the unconverted — to reach people who have absolutely no experience with nature and wildlife, who are afraid of snakes and afraid of getting dirty, and to get them passionate about conservation.”
In August, his family launched their own YouTube channel called “The Dinkelmans,” which focuses on family content, animal adventures and conservation efforts.
Dinkelman was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and owned Dingo’s Farm and Reptile Park in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, according to his website. He was an award-winning Discovery Channel and YouTube Wildlife presenter, it said.
He was often compared to Steve Irwin, the legendary Crocodile Hunter, who was killed by a stingray in 2006.
Both men died at the age of 44.