Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin Will Launch Wildlife NFTs

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Fans of the late “Crocodile Hunter” star Steve Irwin could soon support his zoo’s conservation efforts by collecting NFTs. 

Irwin’s Queensland-based Australia Zoo announced it will mint an NFT collection called “Wildlife Warriors.” All of the profits from NFT sales will either go towards the Australia Zoo or the Wildlife Warriors charity. 

News of the “Wildlife Warriors” NFTs coincides with the Australia Zoo’s 20th anniversary. However, there’s no news on whether these upcoming NFTs will feature special traits in honor of the zoo’s historic birthday. 

There aren’t specific details on what these NFTs will depict or how many there will be. There’s also no word on whether these NFTs will come with special perks. 

Recent reports from CoinTelegraph suggest “Wildlife Warrior” NFTs will be released in a “series of drops,” each highlighting one animal. The Australia Zoo also suggested each NFT will be “100 percent unique” with a mix of randomly generated traits.  

When announcing its NFT project on social media, the Australia Zoo tweeted a picture of a Koala Bear. However, it’s unknown if this will be the first animal in the “Wildlife Warriors” NFT collection. 

We do know that these NFTs will be available on the Algorand blockchain. The Australia Zoo also says it’s working with the local tech company Meadow Labs to design its “Wildlife Warriors” NFTs. 

Anyone interested in minting a “Wildlife Warrior” NFT can now sign up for the official “Allow List” on ​​australiazoonfts.com.

Eco-Conscious Blockchains Attract More “Green” 

Since the Australia Zoo is committed to wildlife conservation, it’s no surprise it decided to mint on a carbon-negative blockchain like Algorand. Indeed, Steve Irwin’s son Robert Irwin said he felt most comfortable using Algorand’s “green chain.” The Algorand team also said it was proud to partner with the Australia Zoo and support “sustainability.” 

Although Ethereum remains the most dominant chain for NFTs, many prominent organizations don’t feel comfortable with its environmental impact. According to recent statistics, one Ethereum transaction consumes as much energy as over 10,500 hours of YouTube videos. 

Many companies and celebrities are now opting to work with smaller chains with a smaller carbon footprint versus Ethereum. 

For instance, Rarity Sniper recently discovered that Canadian author Margaret Atwood chose to mint NFTs on the eco-friendly Tezos blockchain. A few companies that feel more comfortable selling NFTs on Tezos include Papa John’s and Gap. 

Adobe’s Behance also introduced compatibility with Solana NFTs earlier this year. Adobe executives said many artists in the Behance community wanted a more eco-friendly alternative to Ethereum. 

Polygon is yet another chain that continues to promote its eco-conscious status. In fact, the Polygon Network recently published a “Green Manifesto” highlighting its goal to become 100 percent carbon negative in 2022. 

However, it’s worth mentioning that Ethereum plans to transition to a more eco-friendly “Proof of Stake” network later this year. Once Ethereum reduces its energy requirements, it might solidify its status as the chain for NFT trading.