Bindi Irwin has paid tribute to her late father Steve Irwin, describing the Crocodile Hunter as her family’s “superhero” on the 20th anniversary of his death.
Steve Irwin died on 4 September 2006 after a stingray’s barb struck him in the chest while he was filming off the Queensland coast. His death at the age of 44 prompted an outpouring of grief in Australia and around the world.
In an emotional Instagram post, Bindi said the loss continued to be felt by the family every day.
“20 years ago, today, the world lost the most passionate and dedicated wildlife conservationist,” she wrote.
“Our family lost our superhero. My mum lost the love of her life; my brother and I lost the greatest dad.”
Bindi, who was eight when her father died, said grief remained part of their lives but was inseparable from the love they held for him.
“Grief never truly leaves us; we walk alongside it every day. Where there is enormous grief, there is even greater love,” she wrote.
Her tribute was accompanied by footage of Steve speaking enthusiastically about the birth of his daughter. He described the moment as the “most incredible wildlife” encounter of his life and recalled racing around the hospital to show off his new baby.
Bindi said she had come to understand that her father’s legacy extended beyond his work with animals.
“I always thought that my dad’s legacy is wildlife conservation; it turns out, his legacy is love,” she wrote. “For our planet and for each other.”
Steve Irwin’s conservation legacy
Steve Irwin rose to global fame through The Crocodile Hunter, bringing crocodiles, snakes and other wildlife into television homes with his trademark energy and enthusiasm.
His family has continued his work at Australia Zoo in Queensland, which was founded by his parents, Bob and Lyn Irwin, in 1970 as the Beerwah Reptile Park. Steve and his wife, Terri, took over its management in 1992 and later developed it into the organisation known today as Australia Zoo.
According to the zoo, its wildlife hospital now rescues, rehabilitates and releases more than 10,000 native Australian animals each year. The organisation also says the zoo covers more than 700 acres and employs more than 500 people.
Bindi’s husband, Chandler Powell, is also involved in the family’s conservation efforts. The couple’s daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, was given her middle name in tribute to Steve’s description of himself as a wildlife warrior.
Bindi said Grace had grown up feeling close to her grandfather despite never meeting him.
“She feels utterly loved by her ‘grandpa crocodile’ without ever having met him,” she wrote, adding that Grace watched his documentaries each morning.
“My dad left a lasting impact so poignant that it will ripple out for generations to come,” Bindi said. “I believe with my whole heart that his love will live on forever. In all of us.”
Robert Irwin, who was two when his father died, has followed the family’s path as a conservationist, photographer and television presenter. He has frequently spoken about Steve’s influence and continues to work with crocodiles at Australia Zoo.
Steve’s death shocked the world after the stingray attack at Batt Reef, near Port Douglas, while he was making the documentary Ocean’s Deadliest. A public memorial service was later held at Australia Zoo’s Crocoseum, where Bindi told mourners: “My daddy was my hero.”
Concluding her latest tribute, Bindi thanked her father for continuing to guide the family.
“Thank you for always being our guardian,” she wrote. “And that is a life and legacy worth celebrating.”
