Steve Irwin was taken from the world too soon. Since the unfortunate accident, his two kids, Bindi and Robert, have continued his legacy and work. Here's a look at how they have lived life inspired by their dad.
The Crocodile Hunter
Steve Irwin, better known as The Crocodile Hunter, was an Australian icon. His parents, also wildlife experts, shared their love for wildlife with him. In fact, his sixth birthday present was a python!
His parents established their own zoo, and Irwin grew up among the animals. When he was nine, Irwin's dad, Bob, supervised his first wrestling match with a crocodile - something Irwin would become famous for. Steven was heavily involved with the zoo's daily operations and eventually took the business over from his parents.
A Love Story
In 1991, an American naturalist decided to stop by this reptile park while she was touring Australia. There, she happened to meet a zookeeper named Steve Irwin. Terri told Who Magazine later, "I thought there was no one like this anywhere in the world. He sounded like an environmental Tarzan, a larger-than-life superhero guy."
Eight months later, Steve and Terri were married. For their honeymoon, the animal-loving couple trapped crocodiles and filmed the adventure. Their honeymoon would become the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. The series became a global phenomenon, and everyone in the world got to know the Irwins.
Welcoming Bindi
A few years after getting hitched, Steve and Terri welcomed their firstborn to the world. Bindi Sue was born on July 24, 1998. Unsurprisingly, Bindi is named after her dad's favorite female crocodile at their zoo, the Australia Zoo. In typical Irwin fashion, Bindi developed a love for nature and wildlife at a young age.
Bindi started appearing on her dad's television shows when she was only two years old. The young Irwin was born for the spotlight. She also had a budding music career and released child fitness DVDs. It seemed that there was nothing that Bindi couldn't do!
Then Comes Robert
On December 1, 2003, Steve and Terri welcomed their second child to their family. Robert Clarence was named after his grandfathers from both sides, and the boy was born ready for adventure. His dad sparked a major controversy when he held a one-month-old Robert while feeding a crocodile.
Many thought it was irresponsible of the Crocodile Hunter. Steve wanted his children to have the same passion for life and animals that he had. Irwin would take a young Robert out on drives in his Ute and even let him hang on to the wheel. He also allowed his son to sit on his motorbike. These boys were meant for the wild!
Tragedy Hits
Tragedy hit the Australian family. Irwin was filming a new documentary series titled Ocean's Deadliest. The crew was shooting on the famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia. They were scuba diving underwater when a stingray pierced Irwin's heart. Unfortunately, the freak accident killed the Crocodile Hunter.
Irwin was only 44 years old at the time of his death. When the tragic news was released, millions of people all over the world mourned the loss of the famous Australian. His signature khakis and catchphrase "Crikey!" would be missed by fans everywhere. But he would be missed most of all by his family.
Bindi's Eulogy
Irwin's eldest was only eight years old at the time of his death. Despite that, Bindi spoke at her father's memorial service to the 5,000 fans in attendance in Australia and the 300 million television viewers. She began with, "My daddy was my hero." As she finished her speech, everyone gave her a standing ovation.
Per Oprah.com, Bindi recalled, "At Dad's memorial, before the event actually took place, I came to mom and said, 'I would like to do this for myself and for everyone else' and it was something where I personally wanted to say to the world, to anyone watching, to anyone who wanted to hear it that we would be carrying on."
Production Resumes
At the time of her father's death, a young Bindi was working on her very own wildlife docuseries. Bindi the Jungle Girl followed Bindi as she tried to spread the values of conservation and teach kids everywhere about different animals and their importance. Steve had filmed several episodes with her before his death.
Production was paused upon the tragic accident. However, after some time, Terri and Bindi decided to get back into the swing of things and finish filming Bindi the Jungle Girl. The series aired on Discovery Kids, and Bindi gave 10% of her wages to her family's charity, Wildlife Warriors.
Honoring Steve
Although he was physically gone from the Earth, Steve Irwin was not forgotten. His family continued to keep his spirit alive with everything they did, and so did the entire world. A special episode of The Crocodile Hunter was made in his memory and as a tribute to his life and work.
It was titled Crikey! What an Adventure: An Intimate Look at the Life of Steve Irwin. Bindi also released a documentary titled My Daddy, the Crocodile Hunter in honor of her late dad. Additionally, November 15 was designated as Steve Irwin Day, the birthday of one of his favorite animals, a tortoise named Harriet.
Bindi Goes Hollywood
Bindi's love for being on camera wasn't reserved just for wildlife. She made the pivot to Hollywood, and she was on her way to becoming a star. She appeared on talk shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show and starred in her own child fitness DVDs. She also presented the "Favorite Male Singer" award at the 2007 Kids' Choice Awards.
Her first role as a leading lady was as Kirra in the movie Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove. Bindi's younger brother, Robert, also had a small cameo in the film. She also took over the lead character of Nim from Abigail Breslin in the sequel to Nim's Island. Bindi wasn't the only talented Irwin, either.
Robert Writes a Book
The younger Irwin also was hard at work. He appeared in the series Steve Irwin's Wildlife Warriors with his mom and older sister. He also co-hosted a television series called Wild But True, where he and his co-host, Isabel Yamazaki, explore science within Mother Nature and how to make the world a greener place.
Irwin also added author to his resume. He wrote a book series called Robert Irwin Dinosaur Hunter, which follows a fictional version of himself as he gets transported to a prehistoric age and explores the land of dinosaurs. When Bindi and Robert weren't busy working, they were studying away.
It's a Zoo out Here
The family continued to live and work at the Australia Zoo. This was the place where Steve grew up. His parents established the Beerwah Reptile Park on two acres of land. His parents acquired more land and re-branded the park as Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park. In 1991, Steve took over from his parents.
Steve and Terri changed the park's name to the Australia Zoo, and with the extra funds from filming, they kept investing in the zoo and its conservation efforts. After Steve's passing, the family has continued living and working there. Today the zoo has over 700 acres and employs over 500 staff.
A Family Trip
The Australia Zoo became a must-see destination for tourists and locals. Chandler Powell, a professional wakeboarder from Florida, traveled to Australia with his family for a competition. They were touring around the country and stopped at the Australia Zoo for a visit. That's when Powell met Bindi Irwin.
The two teenagers immediately hit it off. According to PEOPLE, "Before leaving the zoo for the day, Powell asked Terri Irwin if he could stay in touch with her daughter." The two kept talking to each other. It seemed that something was forming between the two of them.
Dancing With the Stars
From jungle girl to dancing queen, Bindi Irwin joined the 21st season of the hit reality competition series Dancing with the Stars. Irwin was paired with dance partner Derek Hough. The pair danced their butts off. Hough and Irwin won the competition and took the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
While competing on the show, Irwin went public with her relationship with Powell. How did they make long-distance work? Irwin told PEOPLE, "We talk every day and are together every two to three months. Thankfully I've found someone who is an outdoors kind of person. We'll go have adventures or picnic in the park."
Late Night Debut
Robert Irwin also had a debut of his own. He marked his first late-night television appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He came on the show with some friends, including an African dwarf crocodile, a sloth, and a red-tailed boa. Irwin continued to appear on the show over the years.
Irwin wasn't the only family member to appear on late-night television, either. His dad was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show, except Jay Leno was the host greeting Steve. Over his many appearances, he brought in animals like alligators, kangaroos, and a beaver.
Crikey!
Over a decade after Steve's passing, the Irwins were making their comeback to television. In 2018, the family announced they would star in a brand-new series called Crikey! It's the Irwins. The program would follow their daily and working lives at home in the Australia Zoo.
The series will showcase how the family cares for the over 1,200 animals at the zoo and their wildlife hospital. Robert told PEOPLE, "It's an amazing place to live. Our alarm clock in the morning is the tigers roaring." While Bindi said, "We're all about carrying on in our dad's footsteps."
Walk of Fame
The Australian family boarded a plane and made their way to sunny Los Angeles. Twelve years after their father's death, the kids were heading to Hollywood to celebrate their dad receiving a star on the Walk of Fame. The entire family accepted the award on behalf of the late Crocodile Hunter.
During the ceremony, Bindi said, "I'm gonna get a little bit emotional, it's such a special day… I never in my wildest dreams thought that this would become reality…" Robert declared that his dad "was the best and most incredible conservationist." Their mom, Terri, said, "Take a page out of Steve's book and love everything."
A Big Engagement
After Bindi's 21st birthday celebration, a photo shoot was organized to mark the occasion. However, Powell had other plans for the Jungle Girl. He told PEOPLE, "Just before we started the shoot, I took her to a special part of Australia Zoo to ask the girl of my dreams to become my wife."
Bindi shared the exciting news on social media. She wrote, "On my birthday I said 'yes' & 'forever' to the love of my life. Chandler, close to 6 years ago I fell in love with you & every day since has been a whirlwind of adventure & true happiness. Here's to a lifetime of friendship, purpose & unconditional love."
Like Father, Like Son
As the kids got older, they continued to follow in their parent's footsteps. Bindi met the love of her life at the zoo, just like her parents met. Meanwhile, Robert was also acting just like Dad. His passion for all things wildlife merged with his love for the camera, and the youngest Irwin became an avid photographer.
Robert travels around the world, snapping pics of various wildlife. He told E! News, "A lot of my love and passion for photography actually came from my dad." He also said, "For me, going to work behind the lens is really, really meaningful for me and it's a very special connection to my dad and everything that he was about."
Bindi and Chandler Get Married
The happy couple planned a wedding celebration with 200 guests, but plans had to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they opted for an intimate ceremony with only three guests! Terri, Robert, and Steve's best friend, Wes Mannion, were in attendance for the affair.
Robert walked his older sister down the aisle, and the couple held the ceremony in a special location within the Australia Zoo that was dear to Steve. Their ceremony included plenty of animal friends, of course! The couple posed with a koala and a giraffe.
A Lasting Love
Bindi's loving relationship with Chandler is reminiscent of her mother's relationship with her late father. Terri told The Courier Mail, "You know, and I keep saying this, and I think maybe 15 years later people are starting to believe me, Steve was it for me." The widow of the Crocodile Hunter still feels his love.
"That's just the way it is. I had a big, big love and it was enough to last a lifetime," she continued telling the outlet. After losing her husband, Terri kept her husband's spirit alive in everything that she did. From raising their children to operating the zoo where they fell in love, Terri was truly a wildlife warrior.
Rumored Flings
Although Terri has been single for a long time, she isn't looking. However, that doesn't stop the media from speculating romance rumors about the wildlife conservationist. She told The Courier Mail, "I have kept track because it's kind of funny ... let's see, apparently it's all the Hogans - that's Paul and Hulk..."
She continued, "Russell Crowe, and most recently, it's Richard Wilkins. I think the most flattering would be Russell because he is such a good person, and a very good friend to our family, and I actually do really love him because he loved Steve and they were such good friends."
The First Grandchild
On their first wedding anniversary, Bindi gave birth to a baby girl, Grace Warrior. Before being born, Powell wrote on Instagram, "Our little girl and my beautiful wife are my entire world. I'm so excited to meet our daughter when she's born next year and to see the incredible person she will grow up to be."
For Chandler's first Father's Day, Bindi wrote on her Insta, "Watching my husband become a Dad has been extraordinary. Grace adores her Dadda, and I treasure every moment watching them laugh and play together." The new parents have instilled their love for animals in their baby girl.
Encouraging Her Little Brother
In an interview with E! News, Robert revealed that his big sis is trying to get him dating around. The youngest Irwin told the media outlet, "It's pretty funny because of course my sister has gotten married and had a kid and there's always a lot of rumors that go around."
He continued,"'Bindi's having a second kid' or 'they're having triplets.' There's always so many crazy things that happen so Bindi always says, 'Robert, it's your turn now. You gotta find someone to take the heat off me!'" At the time of the interview, Robert confirmed he was single but that "we'll get there" one day.
Best Job Ever
From author to photographer to conservationist, Robert Irwin has many titles. But his favorite one of them all is being an uncle. He constantly posts photos of him and baby Grace on his Instagram and takes any opportunity he gets to gush about his niece.
He told E! News, "She is just hitting all the milestones. It's so surreal being an uncle. It's the most amazing thing. It's the best job I've ever had, that's for sure. She's just so full of energy. She's so determined. She's the smartest member of the family."
The Crocodile Hunter Lodge
The family has expanded over the years, and so has the Australia Zoo. In the summer of 2022, the Irwins opened The Crocodile Hunter Lodge inside the Australia Zoo. The luxury accommodations will allow guests to experience the zoo in an entirely new way.
Robert said, "Dad would be so proud of the lodge, and of Mum for achieving what he dreamed of." The lodge was built with many recycled materials, and the family planted thousands of native trees. There may just be a kangaroo saying good morning! The family hopes the lodge will inspire a love of nature to everyone who visits.
Steve's Message
Robert opened up to E! News about his father's legacy and what he believes his message would be. He said, "I think what dad really showed the world was, of course, to have that appreciation for the natural world and to treat every living being on this planet as you would wish to be treated."
Robert has followed in his father's footsteps, working with animals and spreading the message of helping our environment. "We have to create as much positive change as we can for our environment and for our fellow humans as well. And just to treat one with kindness, and I think he exemplified that perfectly," Robert said.
Khaki Crew
All these years later, one thing hasn't changed for the Irwin family - the way that they rock the khakis. The family posted a group selfie with everybody wearing their khaki uniforms, even baby Grace. Bindi captioned the photo, "Khaki crew. Wildlife Warriors."
The passionate wildlife conservationists take their business seriously. Every year, the family throws a gala to honor Steve's memory. The Steve Irwin Gala Dinner is "a celebration of the life and legacy of the original Wildlife Warrior." All the proceeds contribute to the neverending conservation work.
Warrior Bindi
In March 2023, Wildlife Warrior Bindi revealed she had been dealing with endometriosis for a decade. She wrote on her Instagram, "For 10yrs I've struggled with insurmountable fatigue, pain & nausea… A doctor told me it was simply something you deal with as a woman & I gave up entirely…"
She ended up going into surgery. Per CNN, endometriosis can include pelvic pain, heavy bleeding during periods and fertility issues. Bindi continued, "I'm sharing my story for anyone who reads this and is quietly dealing with pain and no answers. Let this be yoru validation that your pain is real and you deserve help."
Going Public
Summer loving had Robert having a blast! The photographer made his red carpet debut with his girlfriend, Rorie Buckey. The two attended the Sydney premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One. Although they had been spotted together for over a year, this marked the first time the couple stepped out officially.
Buckey has a famous connection of her own. Her mother, Kate, is the sister of the late actor Heath Ledger. She is also an identical twin to sister Scarlett. The happy couple are both 19 years old and seem to enjoy life and each other's company. It looks like Robert finally took his sister's advice!
Bindi and Robert
It's been years since the tragic passing of their father, yet Bindi and Robert have lived life to the fullest every day since. They keep their dad's spirit and legacy alive in everything they do, from sharing their love of nature with the world to caring for the animals at the Australia Zoo.
When the three Irwins sat down with PEOPLE, Terri remarked, "I'm really proud because I know that all Steve wanted was for his kids to continue in his work and what he's doing." It is safe to say that the Irwin kids have done that and more. Their dad would be proud!