Living out his legacy. Wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin penned an emotional letter about her late father, Steve Irwin, on Monday, Sept. 7, three days after the 9th anniversary of his death.
“Thinking about home today,” the Dancing With the Stars contestant, 17, wrote, alongside a pic of her late parent. “Father’s Day is today in Australia and everyone is celebrating at Australia Zoo. It’s such a special time of year, I hope everyone who comes to the zoo today is able to enjoy it with our gorgeous animals.”
Irwin, who is currently preparing to compete in the new season of DWTS, concluded her note with a heartbreaking remark. “No matter where I am in the world, this day means such a lot to me,” the teen shared with fans. “My heart forever lives @AustraliaZoo – just like Dad’s always did.”
Steve Irwin died on Sept. 4, 2006, at age 44 after a stingray attack. Since his tragic passing, the Crocodile Hunter’s little girl Bindi (who was 8-years-old at the time of his death) has joined forces with her mom, Terri, and her 11-year-old brother, Robert, to run Queensland’s Australia Zoo. The facility was previously managed by Steve, who took over the zoo in the ’90s.
In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Bindi — also the star of her own namesake Netflix series, Bindi’s Bootcamp — opened up about her upcoming stint on DWTS, with Derek Hough as her partner.
“I’ll always feel most comfortable in khaki surrounded by animals, but it is really fun to try different styles,” Bindi told Us exclusively. “I hope [my dad would] be proud. That’s my end goal. He was like our living, breathing superhero. He was so passionate and clever.”
