A full-circle moment happened at the Australia Zoo this weekend, which has Robert Irwin convinced that his dad, the late Steve Irwin, would be “pretty proud.”
The wildlife photographer announced some exciting news about the Elseya Irwini turtle, which was the first one The Crocodile Hunter discovered out in the world in 1990.
“Wow. This was a special moment,” Robert wrote on Instagram. “I think Dad would be pretty proud that we’ve become the first to successfully breed the turtle that he discovered. A rare, and unique species under threat in the wild has just been given a second chance.”
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In the accompanying video, Robert explained more about the hatchling.
Robert Irwin Gets Emotional Talking About the New Turtle
“This is one of the highlights of my entire life and one of the most special moments ever for Australia Zoo,” the 19-year-old says in the video. The camera zooms in on his hand, which is holding the tiny turtle in his palm. “This is the very first Elseya Irwini turtle ever hatched for any zoological facility anywhere in the world.”
That’s pretty amazing! The camera flashes back to an old photo of Steve and his wife Terri Irwin holding the turtle. “This species is a turtle that dad originally discovered out in the wild,” Robert says. “And for the first time, we’ve got a little baby, and right now, he’s going to get his first swim in a brand new pond.”
Robert lowered his hand into the pond and let the baby turtle swim off his hand and into the water. “It’s just so surreal,” Robert says. “And all the stories from dad about just how amazing and beautiful they are.”
He adds, “I don’t get emotional that much,” as tears well up in his eyes. “Your dad would be really, really proud, man,” someone tells Robert off camera, as he nods his heads then turns back to the pond. “My dad would be stoked with that,” he agrees, offering a fist bump to the other man. “We did it,” he adds. I’m pretty sure we are all collectively crying right now for this beautiful moment.
Steve Irwin Would Be So Proud
Earlier this year, Robert shared a throwback video of Steve, who died at age 44 in 2006. In it, he’s talking about his kids.
“Is there anything in this world that would wanna make me give away what I’m doing now?” Seve ponders in the video posted on TikTok. “Yes. Yes, there is,” he answers. “When my children can take the football that I call wildlife conservation and run it off.”
He continues, “When they’re ready to run up our mission, I will gladly step aside. And, I guarantee you, it’ll be the proudest moment of my life. And my job will be done then, and only then will I know that I have achieved my ultimate goal: to stand aside and let them run up my mission.”
Robert and his sister Bindi Irwin, 25, as well as her husband Chandler Powell and their 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter Grace Irwin, have all continued to follow in Steve’s wonderful legacy and keep his memory alive.
The Comments
In the comments on Robert’s new turtle video, people shared inspiring words for Robert and Bindi. “So, what Steve did for people of my generation, you and Bindi are doing for my children’s generation,” one person wrote, which received over 12,000 likes. “Continue the passion, just as I do with telling my kids stories about your dad, they’ll tel (sic) their kids about you.”
“I’m not crying. You’re crying. 🥹” someone else wrote. (It’s safe to say we’re all crying.)
“Steve is looking down and crying tears of joy,” another said. “His heart is proud of not only turtle, but with the fact that his legacy continued with same path he visualized.”
“Your dad would be extremely proud. I can’t tell you what nostalgic happiness it gives me to see you posting on here. Thanks Robert. ❤️” another said.
Another Eerie Father-Son Moment
This isn’t the first time Robert’s taken after his dad. Back in June, he shared that he and his dad had both been bitten by a carpet python snake.
“Déjà vu. Dad and me getting bitten by the same species of snake (carpet python) decades apart,” he wrote on Instagram. “I found this python on the side of a road, but as you can see, sometimes snake rescues don’t quite go to plan 😂.”
He also showed throwback video of Steve getting bitten in the face by the snake, then he shared a video of himself getting bit by a snake many years later. The end showed a side-by-side snap of father and son with blood running down their faces! Those Irwins definitely know how to live on the edge.
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