Wildlife conservationist and television personality Robert Irwin is reflecting on the strength of his mother, Terri Irwin, and the role she played in holding their family together after the death of his father, Steve Irwin. During a recent episode of the podcast Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, the 22-year-old Dancing With the Stars winner spoke candidly about grief, gratitude, and family resilience.
Robert shared that Terri became “the guiding force” following Steve Irwin’s death in 2006. The world-famous “Crocodile Hunter” died after being struck by a stingray barb to the chest while filming a documentary at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. At the time, Robert was just two years old.
Reason for his heartfelt DWTS dedication
Irwin recalled dedicating a DWTS performance to his mother as a public expression of appreciation. The dance, set to Phil Collins’s “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan, represented a tribute not only to Terri, but also to single parents who take on emotional and practical responsibilities under challenging circumstances.
He described his mother as “the glue” that held the family together. While navigating her own grief and raising two young children, Terri kept their conservation efforts alive.
“It was my mom and dad creating this legacy,” Irwin said. “And then when he passed, she was the one person to pick up all the broken pieces and to say, ‘I’m going to make sure everything that he lived for continues on.’”
A legacy continued through wildlife care
Irwin emphasized that his family continues the conservation mission Steve Irwin championed. At Queensland’s Australia Zoo, Robert feeds the same crocodiles his father once cared for—a ritual he says helps him feel connected to Steve.
“I feel the closest to my dad when I’m in there with his crocodiles, and I’m feeding them,” he shared.
Irwin also reflected on the family’s bond after Steve’s death, explaining that the tragedy drew Terri, Robert, and his sister Bindi into a tight-knit emotional circle. “We just became this little bubble of love,” he said.
Growing appreciation with age
As Robert grew older, his admiration for his mother’s strength deepened. He acknowledged that at every milestone he wished his father could have been present, but he increasingly understood the magnitude of Terri’s role.
“I’ve never been able to capture the feeling of gratitude that I feel for her,” he said. “She was there, and that was enough.”
Irwin added that decades later, he continues to learn more about his father. The abundance of archival television footage allows him to rediscover Steve Irwin’s personality through recorded moments. “All of a sudden, his memory just starts flooding back,” Robert said, describing the powerful emotional experience of rewatching video clips.
The continued public fascination with the Irwin family reflects their enduring influence on global wildlife conservation and their resilience through personal loss.
