Robert Irwin Celebrates 17th Birthday With Tribute To Late Father Steve Irwin

Robert Irwin, son of Australian television personality and zookeeper Steve Irwin, celebrated his 17th birthday by sharing some memories of his late father. The young man, a conservationist himself, posted an emotional video created by the Australia Zoo that featured old clips and interviews of Steve from when Robert was a baby.

Robert wrote in the caption, “Our lovely Australia Zoo crew made this beautiful video to celebrate my birthday, and it means the world to me. I am beyond honoured to continue my dad’s legacy and I hope more than anything that he would be proud.”

“I want to thank you for all of your lovely birthday messages and thanks to all who joined us for the celebrations at Australia Zoo today,” he continued. “Looking forward to seeing what this next year brings, in the last year of my childhood!”

50 Best Photos Of The Year 2020

Steve died in a tragic accident when Robert was only two years old.

In the montage of interview clips, Steve reflects on having a second child and how proud he is of his children. In one of the interviews, Steve says he “saw the light” when he looked at his newborn son laying on his wife Terri‘s chest.

“When Bindi was born, I had the same sensation now with little Bob … it’s like this is why I was put here,” Steve says in the clip, referring to Robert’s older sister, Bindi. “I could be dead tomorrow, so I need these blokes to come up as quick as they can. This little bloke’s going to have to catch the crocs with Bindi!”

The Irwin family has kept up Steve’s legacy long after his passing. Like her father and younger brother, Bindi is also a television personality and conservationist.

Bindi offered her brother well wishes for his birthday, having also paid tribute to her father for a birthday herself in the past. “Happy Birthday to my amazing brother! Your kind heart and fantastic sense of humour makes my every day. Our baby girl is going to love her ‘funcle’ (fun uncle) so very much,” she wrote, referring to her pregnancy with her and her husband Chandler Powell‘s first child.