Steve Irwin’s son takes on his late father’s legacy as the new 'Crocodile Hunter'

It may be 12 years since Steve Irwin’s fatal encounter with a stingray, but his legacy lives on through his wife, 14-year-old son, Robert, 20-year-old daughter Bindi and wife Terri. They are back to continue his work in true Irwin fashion we all got to know with their new show.

Their love for anything wild will be showcased on their new Animal Planet series, ‘Crikey! It’s the Irwins!’ and will track the family’s adventures working in the Australia Zoo.

The Irwin trio is excited to return to the same network that aired the beloved conservationist, zookeeper and TV personality’s iconic series, ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ that ran from 1997 to 2004. They share their dad’s objective as Bindi Irwin explain:

“Dad’s still very much a part of everything that we do in Australia Zoo. We wanted to continue in his footsteps and ensure his spirit lives on… What Dad ultimately wanted is for people to have life-changing wildlife experiences and then take home this greater message of conservation and maybe a connection with animals that they never believed they had.”

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14-year-old Robert has been working with the crocodiles at Australia Zoo for the last four years and recently got his first chance to run the croc-feed demonstration. Working closely with Steve Irwin’s close friend Wes Mannion and director of the Australia Zoo, Robert learned a great deal and was well prepared as he ran a flawless demonstration, just like his father.

Mom Terri beamed with pride as she said:

“The croc death rolled perfectly. It was a brilliant demonstration of what a crocodile would do in the wild, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Following the demonstration Robert shared his thoughts:

“Working with crocodiles at Australia Zoo is just a dream. Every time I get to do it, I’m able to really continue dad’s work. I hope that he’d be proud of the croc work that I’m doing.”

Steve Irwin was a father, husband and nature lover, his memory carried on through the efforts of his family with the message that animals are not to be feared, but loved and Robert adds:

“When you walk around the zoo, you can certainly still feel his presence. The show is all about dad, and how we’re continuing the work that he started.”

Whenever one heard the catchphrase, ‘Crikey!’ being yelled it reminded one of Steve Irwin, but there are several things less known about this enthusiastic conservationist that dedicated his life on creating interest in the many wonders wildlife has to offer.

As a small child, Irwin’s family moved to the small town of Beerwah, where his parents turned their passion into a business and opened Beerwah Reptile Park. Later on in life, they gave the business over to Steve, which he renamed to The Australia Zoo.

As a child, Irwin partook in the feeding of the animals and park maintenance and by his sixth birthday he received his first reptile as a present, a 3.6-meter scrub python he named Fred.

Steve craved the action of capturing a crocodile himself at a young age, so when he was nine years old, under the supervision of father Bob, Steve caught his first crocodile.

The fearless Steve Irwin we all got to know did indeed have one fear, and oddly enough it was parrots and would chuckle at the mention that parrots felt the need to bite him with vigor whenever he came into contact with them.

Less known is his great love for athletics, more specifically mixed martial arts, and took his passion for the sport seriously, as he himself also trained in Gaidojutsu.

On April 26, 2018, Steve Irwin got honored with a Walk of Fame star, after which his wife, Terri, gave a moving speech and expressed the importance of caring for all animals, and not to be selective in our compassion, adding that all living beings deserve empathy and kindness

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as his family carries on his legacy in true Irwin fashion, with passion and conservation foremost on their minds.