Australian conservationist Bindi Irwin marks the 20th anniversary of her famous father’s death with a touching tribute to the man best known as the “Crocodile Hunter.”
Steve Irwin died on 4 September 2006, aged 44, after a stingray fatally pierced his chest while filming a documentary at the Great Barrier Reef.
Bindi, who was eight when her father died, called Steve a “superhero” in an online post last Friday, saying that she has watched the world mourn her dad with her family for the past two decades.
I am proud to see how his legacy straps both love and wildlife conservation – I still believe he taught me that we can give love to the planet and to each other. she wrote on Instagram.
The loss has touched Bindi’s mother Terri and her brother Robert, aged 22. Bindi said, “My mum lost the love of her life; my brother and I lost the greatest dad.” She added, “Grief never truly leaves us; we walk alongside it every day.”
She has also shared how her daughter, a tender five‑year‑old, watches her grandfather’s documentaries and feels beloved by her “grandpa crocodile” even though she never met him.
Since Steve’s death the Irwins have run Australia Zoo together, continuing his mission of wildlife preservation. Bindi wrote, “His legacy will ripple out for generations to come.” She thanked him for being the band ’guardian angel,’ concluding that she loved him “with my whole heart.”
Terri also posted a social media tribute on the anniversary, accompanied by a video interview in which the former wildlife advocate remembers the day Bindi was born and the moment he was given the name Bindi after her favourite crocodile. Smith also posted a photo of Steve with baby Robert, captioned “Your legacy is forever.”
Earlier this year Robert was crowned the winner of a US dance competition, following Bindi’s win a decade earlier. This illustrates how the family’s public presence extends beyond wildlife to other forms of cultural engagement.
