When a family member dies all sorts of issues can surface amongst the remaining family. It’s been 18 months since Steve Irwin died, and now his family members seem to be in conflict.

Bob Irwin, Steve’s father and the man who started his interest in wildlife, has left his role at Australia Zoo after 36 years. he will be moving to a new property he has purchased in Australia, separate from Australia Zoo, where Steve and Terri Irwin based their work from. Here is his statement.

Bob Irwin

Steve’s ultimate passion, even from a young boy, was always for the conservation of Australian wildlife and its habitat. When Judy and I move to our new property we intend to carry on with wildlife rehabilitation and conservation projects and therefore continue Steve’s and my dream.

I would like to thank Australia Zoo for their valuable assistance in acquiring our new property in SE Queensland. Australia Zoo has kindly offered to assist us in the relocation (to our new property) of animals needing special care.

I would like to sincerely thank all of the dedicated and hardworking staff at Australia Zoo, Wildlife Warriors and the Australian Wildlife Hospital for their kindness and support over many years.

To all of Steve’s friends out there, you may rest assured that Judy and I will continue with Steve’s dream, with the passion and commitment he would expect.

I would appreciate that my privacy be respected at this time. A more in-depth statement may be released at a later date, if necessary.

Courier Mail

Originally, only a brief statement was released by Australia Zoo suggesting that Bob was retiring. You can read the whole statement here – note that it doesn’t mention Terri Irwin, Steve’s wife and manager of his estate.

This follows quickly behind a family feud being reported in the Australian women’s magazines last week, which Terri’s managers were quick to comment on, but didn’t actually deny the reports.

It is a huge shame that Bob Irwin, who is credited by Steve with introducing him to wildlife conservation and who started the Australia Zoo in the 1970s, isn’t on good terms with his son’s wife and children following his son’s death. Bob’s statement seems to suggest that he is unhappy with the management of Australia Zoo, I suspect because it is now less about conservation and more about tourism.

Terri Irwin has never been particularly liked in Australia, mostly because of her grating accent and now for putting Bindi into the spotlight. Which is probably unfair as Bindi’s projects were in the works before her father died. Steve Irwin was never well-liked Down Under either, I think he embarrassed Australians. ‘Oh no, the whole world is going to think we’re like him!’ Which is probably a legitimate claim. I am Australian and when I was overseas I was asked what is was like to wear normal clothes, not khaki. I own no khaki, and never have. I do have a pet kangaroo though. She carries me in her pouch.