Steve Irwin's dad makes rare statement amid family feud with Terri and Bindi
Steve Irwin's dad has made a rare statement amid a family feud with daughter-in-law Terri and granddaughter Bindi.
Wildlife conservationist Bob Irwin has broken his silence after living a quiet, reclusive life away from the public eye for the last 15 years.
The Australian Zoo founder is of course the dad of the late Steve Irwin, though he hasn't exactly stayed in contact with his son's family since his tragic death.
Irwin died in September 2006 after being stabbed in the chest by a stingray while filming in the Great Barrier Reef.
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Bob last had contact with his extended family back in 2008 after he cut ties with Australia Zoo, according to friends.
He left the popular Aussie tourist attraction 38 years after he founded it as he believed it was becoming 'too commercial'.
Terri was said to be plotting a five-year plan to make the zoo 'Australia's peak tourist destination with a Disneyland feel'.
The plan apparently didn't sit well with Bob, though Terri denied a rift at the time of his departure.
But after a very long time in the shadows, Bob has broke his silence and is actually attacking social media influencers in his recent statement.
The Australia Zoo founder has called on the Queensland government to remove a loophole that allows influencers to enter crocodile habitats for online content.
The proposed changes would see an offence created for anyone that recklessly enters a crocodile habitat, alongside those that disturb the creatures for their own social media content.
By entering the habitats of crocodiles, Bob claims that these content creators are not only endangering the animals, but also themselves.
"The government says idiots like these are not breaking any laws. Well, I say, change the law!" Bob said in a statement.
He added: "The most obvious point we seem to overlook in these incidents is that this is not actually a crocodile management issue at all.
"Things will only change when the authorities start to look at this for what it really is - a human management issue.
"Because let’s be really matter of fact here - a crocodile has never once eaten anybody out of their bedroom."
The proposal seems to have legs, with over 40 traditional owners, scientists, conservationists, business owners and community members championing the changes.
Topics: Australia, Animals, Steve Irwin
Callum Jones