The young woman was visiting wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Australia when she met Steve at his zoo. Only two days later, Steve met an American tourist and naturalist named Terri Raines. In 1991, at just 29 years old, Steve Irwin took over the management of the park from his parents. Steve relocated many of the crocodiles to his family's own park and developed techniques for the capture and management of crocodiles that continue to be utilised to this day. Steve would go on to volunteer for Queensland's East Coast Crocodile Management program, working in remote, far north Queensland to catch and relocate over 100 problem crocodiles alongside his dog, Sui. His parents' park, renamed to the "Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park" by 1980, was not only Steve's home, but his paradise, where he spent his days working alongside his best friend, Wes Mannion, for the rest of his life. At age nine, Steve was catching his first crocodiles under the supervision of his father. In 1968, when other six-year-old boys were receiving matchbox cars for their birthdays, the future crocodile hunter was delighted to receive a four metre long scrub python. Steve Irwin had a love of reptiles from a young age. He described his father as a wildlife expert with a particular interest in herpetology, the zoological branch relating to amphibians and reptiles, while his mother was a wildlife rehabilitator. Steve was heavily involved in life around the park, growing up around the reptiles, regularly feeding animals, performing care and maintenance duties and learning from his parents along the way. In 1970, the family moved to Queensland, where Steve's parents founded a small animal sanctuary - the Beerwah Reptile Park. The family appeared as any other from the outside, but an all-consuming passion for the rehabilitation and rescue of local wildlife ran deep. The couple also had two other daughters, Joy and Mandy. On February 22nd, 1962, maternity nurse Lyn and plumber Bob Irwin gave birth to their only son, Stephen Robert Irwin, in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria. On this World Wildlife Day, we look back at the life of the most popular animal hero Australia has ever produced. From his zoo shows to his TV shows, he dedicated his life to the conversation, rehabilitation and protection of the animals he loved so much. contacted Australia Zoo for comment.As the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin delighted, shocked and wowed millions. “There was one year where we sent birthday presents to him and he opened them up and he sent them back,” Bindi said. The wildlife warrior added that her grandfather even rejected birthday presents from the family on one occasion. “When my dad passed away he (Bob) chose to distance himself from everything that Dad loved the most … At the moment we’re really just respecting his wishes because he hasn’t had anything to do with us for a long time and he decided his own path. “Everyone deals with grief differently,” she said to the Daily Mail. In 2015, Bindi also commented on the family feud when she walked the red carpet at the AACTA Awards in Sydney. “No, I haven’t had an invite to the wedding and, to be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t expect to be invited to the wedding.” “Much the same as any other parent or grandparent, I would wish (Bindi and Chandler) all the best - which I do - and hope things go really, really well. “I want (Bindi and Robert, 15) to be able to do what they want from day to day, enjoy life, enjoy the animals, achieve things, without worrying about things that should never be presented to them (like that article),’’ he told the publication. However, several years after Steve’s death in 2006, Bob Snr allegedly argued with Terri about the running of the zoo, and since then he has not spoken with the family.Įarlier this month, he told the Courier Mail he didn’t expect an invite to Bindi Irwin’s wedding, but that he would attend if he was welcome. Robert, Bindi Irwin and Terri Irwin allegedly have little contact with Steve’s family.
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