Robert Irwin, at the age of twenty-two, has often reflected on how the quiet yet steadfast strength of his mother, Terri Irwin, became the cornerstone that enabled both him and his sister, Bindi, to endure and eventually find peace after the devastating loss of their father, the beloved conservationist Steve Irwin. During an episode of the podcast ‘Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce,’ the newly crowned winner of this season’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ shared touching insights into how his mother’s emotional fortitude and compassion guided them through those dark, uncertain years. He recalled dedicating one of his dance performances to her — a profoundly personal tribute to what he called ‘the guiding force behind everything that we do,’ a title that speaks volumes about her profound influence not only within their family but also in the broader legacy of conservation that defines the Irwin name.
Reflecting on those times, Robert described his mother as ‘the glue that held us together’ during what was unquestionably the most painful chapter of their lives: the passing of his father. His choice of words conveyed not simply admiration but deep gratitude, acknowledging that while grief had the power to divide, it was Terri’s resilience, practicality, and unwavering love that bound them in healing unity. The dance he dedicated to her — performed to Phil Collins’s touching ballad ‘You’ll Be in My Heart’ from Disney’s *Tarzan* film — represented far more than a television moment. For Robert, it symbolized an open and heartfelt thank-you, not only to his own mother but to every single parent who shoulders the immense responsibility of holding an entire household together with courage and grace, often without the recognition they so rightly deserve.
He went on to describe the immense weight Terri bore after Steve’s sudden death. Despite her own grief — and the profound shock of losing her life partner so unexpectedly — she devoted herself simultaneously to raising two children and to safeguarding the global conservation efforts she and Steve had begun together. Robert made it clear that the continuation of this work was not automatic; it required his mother’s deliberate decision to ‘pick up the broken pieces’ and promise herself that everything her husband had lived and worked for would continue to thrive. Her determination ensured that the dream Steve had once shared with her did not fade with his passing but evolved into a living legacy, now cared for by their children as well.
Robert was only two years old in 2006 when tragedy struck. His father was fatally wounded by a stingray while filming a documentary at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. That loss could easily have fragmented their family, yet Robert emphasized that his mother’s example taught him invaluable lessons about unity and the inherent strength that love can provide in moments of despair. He reflected tenderly that when someone dear is taken away, it exposes the character of those who remain — and while some people crumble under that pain, others reveal an almost superhuman resilience. In their case, the three of them — Terri, Bindi, and Robert — formed what he affectionately called a ‘bubble of love,’ a small but powerful circle where mutual support, shared purpose, and tender understanding became their refuge.
At Queensland’s Australia Zoo, the heart of the Irwin family’s conservation empire, that sense of continuity persists with a nearly spiritual significance. Robert described how he still feeds the same crocodiles that his father once cared for, considering it a sacred act that connects past to present. Each interaction with those animals brings him closest to the father he barely remembers, transforming routine work into a deeply personal ritual through which memory comes alive. It is within these moments that the physical and emotional distance of time seems to dissolve.
During the particular episode of *Dancing With the Stars* where he dedicated his performance to his mother, Robert admitted that age and maturity had sharpened his awareness of the extraordinary difficulty of what she endured. When he was younger, he could not fully grasp the scale of her burden — the loneliness, the constant balancing of personal sorrow with the need to preserve her children’s stability — but as he grew older, his appreciation deepened. He confessed that no words could ever truly capture the depth of his gratitude. At every significant milestone in his life — from birthdays and professional achievements to moments of quiet reflection — he has longed for his father’s presence, yet each time he looked to the side and saw his mother there, he realized that her love had been enough to carry them through everything.
In a separate interview with *People* magazine, Robert expressed that in recent years he feels even closer to his late father, a sentiment that might seem paradoxical given the decades since Steve’s passing. He attributes this connection to the vast archive of footage from *The Crocodile Hunter,* the groundbreaking wildlife series that introduced Steve’s boundless enthusiasm to audiences around the world between 1997 and 2004. Every so often, Robert discovers clips he has never seen before, and these rediscovered moments bring his father’s voice, energy, and personality vividly back to life. It is, as he put it, a peculiar yet beautiful experience — to piece together an even more complete image of the man he lost when he was only a toddler, and to feel that, through memory and legacy, their bond continues to grow stronger with time.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-irwin-mom-terri-held-family-together-dad-steve-died-2025-12
