It’s been 20 years since the late, great, Australian conservationist Steve Irwin passed away. The man affectionately known to millions as the “Crocodile Hunter” — the name of his iconic show, which initially brought him fame in the 1990s on the Discovery Channel — lost his life on September 4, 2006.
Steve was just 44 when a short-tail stingray barb pierced his chest while he was while filming a nature documentary in the Great Barrier Reef with Philippe Cousteau Jr. The creature’s stinger penetrated Irwin’s thoracic wall, causing massive trauma.
The world mourned the tragic loss of the beloved star, while fellow conservationist Terri Irwin lost her husband, and Robert Irwin and Bindi Irwin — who were just two and eight years old at the time, respectively — lost their dad.
On the 20th anniversary of their unimaginable loss, Robert, Bindi, and Terri have all taken to social media to pay tribute to Steve.
Robert Irwin Says His Father’s Legacy Is Forever
“Dancing with the Stars” 2025 winner Robert Irwin shared his tribute to his dad with the 9.9 million followers on his Instagram account.
Robert’s post includes a single photograph. In the image, Steve is crouched down in a forest, typically covered in mud, while holding the young Robert. Baby Robert is looking directly at him admiringly, seemingly in awe of his father.
The star’s simple caption on the post reads, “Your legacy is forever.”
His mother, Terri, commented on the post, saying, “He loves you so much, Robert.💕”
Older sister Bindi wrote, “Always with us. ❤️”
Bindi Irwin Calls Dad Their Family’s ‘Superhero’
Bindi Irwin’s tribute to dad Steve, shared with the 6.7 million followers on her Instagram account, features a single video (with an photograph of Steve holding Bindi as its preview thumbnail).
The 155-second clip is of Steve passionately describing Bindi’s birth. He describes it as “the most incredible wildlife encounter” of his life. Highlights include Steve referring to the bruises Terri gave him by grabbing him so tightly, being “flabbergasted” at how Bindi fit into the palms of his hands, and Steve explaining how he ran around the hospital showing Bindi off while saying “look at this little beauty!”
“Dancing with the Stars” 2015 winner Bindi’s long caption on the post begins, “20 years ago, today, the world lost the most passionate and dedicated wildlife conservationist. Our family lost our superhero. My mum lost the love of her life; my brother and I lost the greatest dad. Grief never truly leaves us; we walk alongside it every day. Where there is enormous grief, there is even greater love. In the last 20 years, I have watched the world mourn my dad with our family. I always thought that my dad’s legacy is wildlife conservation; it turns out, his legacy is love.”
The caption concludes, “For our planet and for each other. I have a 5-year-old daughter who watches his documentaries every morning. She feels utterly loved by her “grandpa crocodile” without ever having met him. My dad left a lasting impact so poignant that it will ripple out for generations to come. I believe with my whole heart that his love will live on forever. In all of us. In every kindness we show to the Earth. And that is a life and legacy worth celebrating. ❤️ Dad, I love you with my whole heart. Thank you for being our guardian angel. And most of all, thank you for watching over my daughter now, too. She loves you so much. We all do.”
Mom Terri commented, “Your dad loves you so very much.💕”
The official Australia Zoo account wrote, “The greatest Wildlife Warrior will always live on through his legacy and your family💚🐊.”
Terri Irwin Says Grief Still Walks With Her ‘Like a Shadow’
Steve Irwin’s wife, Terri, who most recently regularly appeared on television in the reality series “Crikey! It’s the Irwins” alongside her family, shared her tribute to her late husband with the 1.1 million followers on her Instagram account.
It includes a single picture of Steve, typically cosying up to a monitor lizard as though it were a teddy bear.
The emotional caption on Terri’s post reads, “After 20 years, grief still walks with me like my shadow. With the passing of time I have gained more perspective and understanding. We were together as a family, on our crocodile research expedition, for what was to be our final six weeks together. Ours was to be a long and sweet goodbye. Steve spent time with Bindi and Robert building swings and climbing trees. We all slowed down. Time slowed down. I believe that all of us, every one of us, gets to say goodbye. We just may not know that we’re saying it. Hold every moment dear with the ones you love. Until we meet again.❤️”
Daughter Bindi commented on the post, saying, “I love you so much, Mum. ❤️ You are the strongest woman I know.”
Fans Also Paid Their Tributes to Steve
GettyThe comments sections of Robert, Bindi, and Terri Irwin’s posts about the late, great Steve Irwin are littered with lovely comments from fans paying tributes of their own and sharing their ongoing grief.
One of Robert Irwin’s followers commented on his post, “The love in your eyes 🥹😍 I remember where I was in our busy newsroom when we heard the news. Devastating 😢.”
Someone else wrote on Robert’s post, “What a powerful guardian angel 🪽 you’ve got. You are doing him so proud👏🏽🐊.”
A follower of Bindi Irwin said on her post, “Humanity was blessed to have him earth side for as long as we did. You and your family do an amazing job continuing his legacy. 👏🏽keep thriving.”
Another of Bindi’s followers proclaimed, “We all miss him so much. He is such a unique person, someone who makes everyone around him happy. Thinking of you today 🫶🫶.”
“Literally the only death of someone famous that still after 20 years saddens me. We needed steve today more than ever. A true hero,” noted an Instagram user on Terri’s post.
Finally, one appreciative individual commented on Terri’s post, saying, “Thank you for sharing your soulmate with us all- and for showing us how to live a life of dignity, grace, beauty & courage. ❤️”
We send our warmest comforting wishes to the entire Irwin family on the 20th anniversary of Steve Irwin’s sad passing. May his memory always be a blessing and may he continue to rest in eternal peace.
