Robert Irwin welcomes a new addition to the family

Robert Irwin welcomed a brand new member to the Australia Zoo family last Monday.

The celebrity conservationist, 19, introduced an extremely rare species of turtle to the wildlife sanctuary after his father Steve Irwin discovered them in 1990. 

Posting a video of the gorgeous animal to Instagram, the media personality explained the freshwater species was named Elseya irwini after his father.  

‘For many years we’ve wanted to have them here at Australia Zoo, and finally we can say we’ve got them. We’ve actually rescued several Irwin’s Turtles,’ he said.

‘There’s simply not enough data known about them to classify them as an endangered species because they’re so incredibly rare.’

He continued: ‘But what we do know is that they’re very much at the mercy of human-created threats. Things like dams, mining, pollution, habitat degradation.’

As he gently held the docile creature in his hands, Robert went on to explain the Irwin’s Turtle lives ‘in very isolated pockets’ of water.

‘So if anything were to happen to these waterways it would be game over for the entire species,’ he said.

The celebrity conservationist introduced an extremely rare species of turtle to the wildlife sanctuary after his father Steve Irwin discovered them in 1990

‘Which is why it’s so incredibly important to have a population here at Australia Zoo to ensure that this species can survive on for generations to come,’ he added.

The new family addition comes after Robert was reportedly planning to pop the question to his girlfriend Rorie Buckey after seven months of dating.

According to New Idea magazine, protective mother Terri Irwin had concerns her lovestruck son and his smitten girlfriend, 18, will rush down the aisle too early.

Posting a video of the gorgeous animal to Instagram, the media personality explained the freshwater species was named Elseya irwini after his father

‘Terri feels like Robert is moving way too fast,’ a source told the publication.

‘Rorie’s a sweetheart and it’s easy to see why he is absolutely smitten, but Terri knows the stakes are high,’ they added.

They claimed Robert is a ‘romantic’ who is hoping to emulate his mother’s quick engagement to her late husband Steve after just eight months of dating in 1992.

Robert and Rorie, who is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger, are currently in a long-distance relationship, with Robert based at Australia Zoo in Queensland while Rorie is in Perth.

The new family addition comes after Robert was reportedly planning to pop the question to his girlfriend Rorie Buckey, 18, (pictured) after seven months of dating

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