Late Steve Irwin’s Son Is More Like Him Every Day Fulfilling His Mission — Tears up at Dad's Message on 19th B-Day

As time passes, Robert Irwin, the son of the late conservationist Steve Irwin, appears to be more like his father in appearance and character. On his 19th birthday, an old footage of his his dad with a special message moved him to tears.

As the son of Steve Irwin, an Australian zookeeper and conservationist loved by many, Robert Irwin has dedicated his life to protecting and preserving the natural world, just like his late father did.

Robert's hard work hasn't gone unnoticed, and his impressive contributions to the conservation movement have won him fans worldwide.

When Steve met his wife Terri Irwin for the first time in 1991 while traveling around Australia visiting wildlife rehabilitation facilities, love was instant for both.

At the time, Terri was under the impression that there was no one else quite like Steve, whom she referred to as an "environmental Tarzan" and "a larger-than-life superhero guy."

Terri and Steve Irwin's Love Story

Terri couldn't help but think that Steve was the perfect man. When they first met, she assumed he was already in a relationship. Steve was quite the prankster, and he played with Terri's assumption and pretended to be taken.

But it turns out Terri misunderstood Steve's words. Steve was actually talking about Suey, his beloved dog, whom he affectionately referred to as his "girlfriend." When Terri learned this, she was relieved that he was single.

Love struck fast for these two, as they got engaged just four months into their whirlwind romance. Terri and Steve officially became husband and wife in June 1992.

During their 14 years together, the couple eventually started a family, welcoming daughter Bindi on July 24, 1998, and son Robert on December 1, 2003.

Steve passed away in September 2006 at 44 after a stingray pierced his chest while filming a documentary. At the time of his tragic death, his children were still small.

Before he died, the father of two left a message for his children, Bindi and Robert. He expressed his dreams for them and the importance of carrying out his mission.

Robert Following in His Father's Footsteps in Wildlife Conservation

Robert was only two years old when Steve died. In an interview with Esquire in June 2021, Robert mentioned how lucky he was to have so much of his father's life recorded on camera.

When he was young, he watched his dad's clips. Robert said that instead of cartoons for breakfast, he would rather watch old documentaries about his father's work with animals.

The young TV personality felt closer to his dad when he watched old videos of him. Whenever the teen conservationist starts to forget a specific memory, the videos help bring back all of the memories associated with his dad.

Robert has devoted his life to continuing his father's legacy. Working for networks like the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, he has made a name for himself in documentary filmmaking.

He remains determined to keep his father's message alive, hoping that Steve will be proud of him. His father always said that the message he sent was more important than whether or not people remembered him.

Aside from documentary shows, Robert actively advocates for wildlife conservation on social media, specifically Instagram. He has been sharing various facts about reptiles. Recently, he shared fascinating information about the shingleback lizard.

He, his older sister Bindi, and his mother Terri all participated in efforts to conserve wild animals. They even posed for a photo together while holding a python.

Robert posted on Instagram about his father's lifelong goal of crocodile preservation and the important research they are doing as part of that mission. He expressed how privileged he feels to be able to contribute to this work.

In addition to being a devoted conservationist, Robert is also an accomplished photographer. He recently released his first photography book, "Robert Irwin's Australia."

It had taken him years to complete his passion project, so seeing the book published was a proud moment for the young explorer. According to him, the book is about natural beauty and environmental turmoil.

Robert attributes his passion for photography to Steve, whom he described as "extremely passionate" both in front of and behind the camera. He went on to say that his father was the one who instilled in him a love of nature. During the recent Father's Day, he wrote on Instagram:

"I feel so lucky to have had an absolute superhero for a dad."

Robert has been frequently compared to Steve because they share similar interests. One fan had to take a second look at another Instagram photo of Robert with a koala because he posed like Steve.

One user said that Robert and his father looked alike, and another commented that the teen's resemblance to Steve made them think of the time when they would watch Steve's shows on TV back in the day.

Meanwhile, another netizen became sentimental, saying, "Brought tears to my eyes Seeing this kid like exuberance in Steve's eyes and that pure heart and passion for all living things."

Based on the comparisons made by internet users, Robert appears to take great pride in his connection with Steve. On Twitter, he revealed that his mother once shared a photo of Steve as a child.

Robert admitted that he initially mistook himself for the late conservationist. He reflected on all the adventures ahead for him and how fortunate he was to follow in his father's footsteps.

On Instagram, he also shared a captivating side-by-side photo of him and Steve feeding Murray, the crocodile, at the Australia Zoo. Robert fed the creature 15 years after his father did.

Steve's Heartfelt Message

On his 19th birthday, Robert received a video gift from the Australian Zoo, which featured his father speaking passionately about his dream for Robert and Bindi.

The iconic conservationist emphasized the importance of passing on his mission to his children, knowing he could leave the world anytime. He stated that he would be happy to step aside when they were ready to execute their mission, and only then will he feel that he has reached his ultimate goal.

Steve added in the clip that having his children continue his work in his place would be the proudest moment of his life. The heartfelt video brought tears to Robert's eyes. Robert said:

"It's such a privilege personally and as a family to continue the legacy of dad. Something that started so many years ago. That's what it's all about, you know, you walk around the zoo and you still see his face everywhere."

Robert reflected on his father's dedication to wildlife conservation and making the world a better place. He also spoke about his father's love for his family and constant presence in their lives, calling him an "amazing dad."

Joking that he's getting old, the young conservationist wished his father could be there to celebrate his 19th birthday. Robert hopes to find a way to honor and continue his father's profound legacy and make him proud.

Stressing the continued relevance of his father's cause for every person today, Robert expressed his gratitude to those helping to keep his father's voice and message alive.