Robert Irwin has alarmed fans after sharing an innocent photo of himself swimming alongside a giant manta ray.
In honour of World Shark and Ray Day, the wildlife warrior, 20, took to Instagram on Monday to post the underwater image.
The photo showed Robert wearing a spring suit wetsuit and snorkel gear as he swam with his hand outreached alongside the giant sea creature.
‘I’ve got a lot of love for elasmobranchs! This was quite an experience freediving with an incredibly friendly manta ray, just gorgeous. Our oceanic wildlife is in dire need of our appreciation and protection,’ he captioned the post.
But the image caused a stir online with many fans confusing the aquatic animal with a stingray, a fish that tragically killed his father Steve Irwin in 2006.
‘I think the whole of Australia has PTSD looking at this pic,’ one fan wrote.
‘It will never not be too soon for this photo, Robert,’ another commented.
‘We weren’t ready for this, sir. The world still hasn’t forgiven the species as a whole,’ a third said.
In honour of World Shark and Ray Day, Robert Irwin, 20, shared an image of himself swimming alongside a giant manta ray
Meanwhile, many fans were quick to correct the users that it is indeed a manta ray.
‘People really need to start educating themselves before actually commenting whatever comes to their mind. Google the difference between a manta ray and a sting ray and leave the man alone,’ one fan declared.
Manta rays have a wide wingspan and can grow anywhere up to 23 feet long, while stingrays can grow to around six feet in length.
Unlike stingrays, the tail on a manta ray does not contain a barb, which therefore makes them harmless to humans.
The image caused a stir online with many fans confusing the aquatic animal with a stingray, a fish which tragically killed his father in 2006
Steve was killed when he was barbed by a stingray on September 4, 2006, at Batt Reef near Port Douglas in far north Queensland aged 44.
The tragic news sent shockwaves across Australia and around the world as his fans grieved the tragic loss.
Robert along with his mother Terri, 59, and sister Bindi, 25, have dedicated themselves to raising awareness for conservation and continuing Steve’s legacy.
Meanwhile, many fans were quick to correct the users that it is indeed a manta ray
Steve was killed when he was barbed by a stingray on September 4, 2006, at Batt Reef near Port Douglas in far north Queensland aged 44
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