Steve Irwin, the beloved Australian wildlife expert known worldwide as “The Crocodile Hunter,” died on Sept. 4, 2006, at age 44 after a stingray barb pierced his chest while he was filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.
WASHINGTON — Bindi and Robert Irwin are honoring their late father, Steve Irwin, as the family marks 20 years since the death of the famed conservationist, television host and larger-than-life advocate for wildlife.
Steve Irwin became a global figure through the wildlife documentary series “The Crocodile Hunter,” which aired during the 1990s and early 2000s and introduced millions of viewers to his energetic approach to animal conservation. He died Sept. 4, 2006, while working on a documentary in the Great Barrier Reef, after a stingray struck him in the chest.
Robert Irwin, 22, shared a poignant tribute on Instagram, posting a childhood photo of himself sitting on Steve’s lap. His message was brief but heartfelt: “Your legacy is forever.”
Bindi Irwin, 28, marked the anniversary with a longer Instagram post, sharing a video clip of Steve reflecting on the day she was born.
“The most incredible wildlife encounter of my life was the birth of my daughter, Bindi,” Steve says in the video, as he describes wife Terri Irwin giving birth and shares the story behind their daughter’s name.
In her caption, Bindi wrote, “20 years ago, today, the world lost the most passionate and dedicated wildlife conservationist. Our family lost our superhero. My mum lost the love of her life; my brother and I lost the greatest dad.”
Bindi also reflected on how the Irwin family has carried Steve’s memory and conservation mission forward over the past two decades without him.
“I have watched the world mourn my dad with our family. I always thought that my dad’s legacy is wildlife conservation; it turns out, his legacy is love,” Bindi wrote. “I have a 5-year-old daughter who watches his documentaries every morning. She feels utterly loved by her ‘grandpa crocodile’ without ever having met him.”
Bindi concluded her post with a special message to her father.
“Dad, I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for being our guardian angel. And most of all, thank you for watching over my daughter now, too. She loves you so much. We all do,” Bindi wrote.
Terri, Bindi and Robert are continuing to carry on Steve’s legacy of wildlife conservation at the Australia Zoo in Queensland, Australia.
Bindi and Robert both won “Dancing with the Stars,” her winning alongside partner Derek Hough in 2015 and him winning with partner Whitney Carson in 2025. They both performed tribute dances to their father.
