Robert Irwin chokes back tears as he praises his ‘wonder woman’ mother Terri for her ‘bravery’

Robert Irwin chokes back tears as he praises his ‘wonder woman’ mother Terri for her ‘bravery’ as she continues to honour his late father Steve’s legacy: ‘She could have sold the zoo but she understood’

Robert Irwin choked back tears as he spoke of his ‘wonder woman’ mother Terri in a rare solo interview on ABC’s One Plus One on Thursday. 

The 18-year-old conservationist appeared visibly moved when he discussed Terri’s strength as a single mother, and her choice not to sell Australia Zoo after the shock death of his father, Steve. 

‘She could have sold the zoo and just raised us. And we could have just squirrelled away and lived a little hidden life,’ Robert said. 

Robert Irwin choked back tears as he spoke of his ‘wonder woman’ mother Terri in a rare solo interview on ABC’s One Plus One on Thursday 

Robert admitted that wouldn’t have been the ‘wrong thing to do’, but Terri instead chose to carry on Steve’s treasured work. 

‘She could see this legacy and knew that it could continue to grow and get bigger and better every single year and she did just that,’ he added. 

‘She raised us. She kept the zoo going through some tough times. I get emotional just thinking about it. She’s an absolute wonder woman.’ 

Robert went on to call her the ‘force of nature’ behind Australia Zoo, much like his father was prior to his death. 

'She could have sold the zoo and just raised us. And we could have just squirreled away and lived a little hidden life,' Robert said. 'She raised us. She kept the zoo going through some tough times. I get emotional just thinking about it. She's an absolute wonder woman.'

‘She could have sold the zoo and just raised us. And we could have just squirreled away and lived a little hidden life,’ Robert said. ‘She raised us. She kept the zoo going through some tough times. I get emotional just thinking about it. She’s an absolute wonder woman.’

‘Everyone saw dad as this larger-than-life character. Which he was in real life. 120 per cent every single day. But mum is the one who kept it going, it’s pretty special.’

Elsewhere, Robert reflected on his admiration for Terri, saying he never fully grasped the roles she was forced to play after his father died.  

‘I don’t think I really fully understood, fully grasped what a powerful human being and brave human being she is, and was, until I really started to kind of step into adulthood,’ he said. 

'Everyone saw dad as this larger-than-life character. Which he was in real life. 120 per cent every single day. But mum is the one who kept it going, it's pretty special,' he added

‘Everyone saw dad as this larger-than-life character. Which he was in real life. 120 per cent every single day. But mum is the one who kept it going, it’s pretty special,’ he added

'I don't think I really fully understood, fully grasped what a powerful human being and brave human being she is, and was until I really started to kind of step into adulthood,' he said. Pictured: Robert and Terri with Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth. Here: October, 2019

‘I don’t think I really fully understood, fully grasped what a powerful human being and brave human being she is, and was until I really started to kind of step into adulthood,’ he said. Pictured: Robert and Terri with Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth. Here: October, 2019 

‘I realise now and only now what she has been through,’ Robert said. 

‘I mean raising children, for mum to do that, without dad, to lose this sounding board and the person who you count on. I mean, the rug is just taken out from under you.’ 

Steve Irwin, known to the world as the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, died aged 44, on September 4, 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray. 

He is survived by wife Terri, daughter Bindi, and son Robert. 

Irwin is survived by wife Terri, daughter Bindi, and son Robert (all pictured). Here: April, 2004

Irwin is survived by wife Terri, daughter Bindi, and son Robert (all pictured). Here: April, 2004

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