Australia`s `Crocodile Hunter` becomes a professor

The "Crocodile Hunter" had been named an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland shortly before his death in 2006, said Craig Franklin, a lecturer at the campus and a friend of Irwin.

However Irwin was killed by a stingray while filming on Australia's Great Barrier Reef before he could find out about the award, Franklin told AFP.

"Notification of the honour was waiting for Steve at (his) Australia Zoo, but sadly he never returned to find out the good news," Franklin said.

"This presentation now gives us the opportunity to publicly recognise his remarkable contribution to research and conservation," he said.