Terri Irwin has reportedly been considering selling Australia Zoo.
This comes after the great financial loss the family faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But first, let’s take a look at her family’s history…
Now, we all know Bindi Irwin as the daughter of the late Steve Irwin…
And fans of the Irwin family from all around the world have taken joy in the last decade seeing Bindi follow in her father’s footsteps by working tirelessly at the family’s Australia Zoo with her mom Terri and brother Robert.
Bindi also works alongside her husband Chandler Powell.
The pair met when Chandler, who’s now twenty-five, was visiting the zoo while in Australia for a professional wakeboarding competition from the United States.
They have been together for over 8 years and amazingly so, American-born Chandler exhibits the same passion for animals as the Irwin’s.
Last year, the pair decided to take their commitment to one step further.
On March 25th, 2020, Bindi and Chandler finally said their “I do’s” and became husband and wife.
Sharing the exciting news on Instagram, Bindi wrote that they “held a small ceremony” and she “married my best friend.”
“There are no words to describe the amount of love and light in my heart right now. We’ve planned this beautiful day for nearly a year and had to change everything, as we didn’t have guests at our wedding. This was a very difficult decision but important to keep everyone safe. We wish all of our friends and family could have been there with us, however, it’s lovely that we will be able to share photos and videos,” Bindi wrote on Instagram.
They got married in a secluded location where Steve used to regularly film and Bindi opened up about how she honored her late dad on her special day…
Speaking to People, Bindi said: “Where we got married was such a special place to dad. It’s a beautiful little area where he had filmed for many years. It felt really wonderful and just meant to be. We had dad’s picture with his dog Sui blown up on an easel, so mom and Robert were standing right next to dad as we exchanged vows. We had a candle-lighting ceremony for him, and it really felt like he was there with us. It was a lovely moment of peace and happiness.”
And for another special touch, she even kept her surname as a legacy to her dad.
Speaking to ET, Bindi said: “I’ve kept Bindi Irwin. I think that for me personally, after dad [Steve Irwin] passed away it was really important for me to feel close to him, and having his last name means so much to me.”
And just 5 months on from their wedding…
The couple came forward with yet another exciting announcement.
Bindi took to Instagram to share this adorable photo of her and Chandler holding up a miniature khaki shirt…
Alongside the caption: “Baby Wildlife Warrior due 2021. Chandler and I are proud to announce that we’re expecting! It’s an honor to share this special moment in our lives with you. Though I’m still in my first trimester, we really want you to be part of our journey from the beginning of this new life chapter.”
“We couldn’t wait to share the news as this beautiful little being has become the most important part of our lives,” she added.
“Your support means the world to us. Please let me know your best advice and send good vibes & prayers to our little sweetheart. Love & light.”
Bindi’s mom, Terri, expressed her joy also.
She also noted, “I wish that Steve was here to share this beautiful moment, I know that he would be so proud.”
And a few weeks later, she then revealed that they were expecting a baby girl!
Posing with an up-to-date sonogram next to a huge tortoise munching on some pink flowers, Bindi wrote: “Baby girl, you are our world. Our beautiful daughter is now about the same size as a hatchling Aldabra tortoise and is as healthy as can be. We can’t wait for her arrival next year.”
And as for the bump?
Well, Bindi at first remained fairly private when it came to revealing her growing bump and she would only tease pictures that would show a slight silhouette.
But in the last few months of her pregnancy, she decided to start revealing her growing body to her fans…
And she even decided to stage the sweetest photoshoot that recreated a photo that Terri and Steve took when they were expecting Robert more than seventeen years ago.
Well in March, their wait finally came to an end…
As it was announced that Bindi and Chandler welcomed their daughter into the world.
Bindi delivered a healthy baby girl…
And taking to Instagram to announce the news, she wrote: “March 25, 2021. Celebrating the two loves of my life. Happy first wedding anniversary to my sweetheart husband and day of birth to our beautiful daughter. Grace Warrior Irwin Powell. Our graceful warrior is the most beautiful light.
“Grace is named after my great-grandmother, and relatives in Chandler’s family dating back to the 1700s. Her middle names, Warrior Irwin, are a tribute to my dad and his legacy as the most incredible Wildlife Warrior. Her last name is Powell and she already has such a kind soul just like her dad. There are no words to describe the infinite amount of love in our hearts for our sweet baby girl. She chose the perfect day to be born and we feel tremendously blessed.”
Robert then took to Instagram to express his joy over being an uncle…
“Let the uncle adventures begin! Love you so much, Grace. This little one picked the 2 best parents in the entire world. The most incredible, caring, and strong Mum… and the funniest, coolest and kindest Dad. Love you 3 so much – I can’t wait for this exciting journey ahead!” he wrote.
We can only imagine how amazing the last 8 months have been for the new mom and dad…
But, no matter how amazing it is, it’s also a very difficult time.
As Bindi has revealed it’s “devastating” becoming a parent without her dad, Steve.
In a new show, Crikey! It’s a Baby, Bindi opened up about how her daughter, Grace, will never get to meet her grandfather.
“It’s hard knowing that she’ll never get to actually meet (my dad), and it’s devastating because I’ll never get to watch that connection.”
“But I cannot wait to be able to tell beautiful Grace all of these stories about Dad, to be able to share with her what an amazing father he was,” she said.
“It’s gonna be really special for her to know him through us… to tell her about what an amazing man he was.
“It is really hard, it’s hard that he’s not here because out of everyone in the world he would’ve loved her the most,” she added, “He would’ve loved her so much, but I think, in a way, he is still with us… “His heart and soul lives on in all of us, so he’s never really gone,” she finished.
But nevertheless, Bindi and Chandler have been loving their new lives as parents…
And all of the excitement and enjoyment that comes with it.
Especially seeing how quickly Grace and the animals at their zoo have bonded…
Bindi, and mom, Terri, recently opened up in an interview with Entertainment Tonight about how she takes after grandfather, Steve.
“She’s got that determination that Steve had and that connection with wildlife,” said Terri. “Because it is weird to see animals just gravitate to her.”
“So she’ll go out in the morning in the stroller, and all the kangaroos just gather around her like they’re having a meeting,” she said.
“Oh my word, the koalas… literally climb out of their trees to come see her,” Bindi added.
Explaining that she’s still a little too young to play with them and their sharp claws, calling her daughter a “risk-taker.”
“That’s Steve all over,” said Terri in response.
Bindi has since shared a video to Instagram of Grace seemingly at ease with several kangaroos.
And people can’t take the cuteness. One user wrote, “That is so awesome that sweet baby girl is being raised around the kangaroo,” followed by a heart and peace sign emoji.
And now, Terri Irwin has reportedly been considering selling the infamous Australia Zoo.
The family business suffered financial troubles during the Covid pandemic when tourists were locked up in their homes.
A source close to the family told New Idea about Terri’s possibility of offloading the business for personal and professional reasons.
An insider said: “There has been joy, unbearable loss, and in recent years some very hard financial times thanks to Covid border closures affecting tourist revenue.”
Closing down the attraction is one idea, but now, Terri has been contemplating handing down the business to her daughter, Bindi.
“It’s a beautiful time for her, and Terri doesn’t want to burden her with the pressure of running the family zoo,” a source told the Australian media outlet.
Terri’s son, Robert, has also been thinking of taking the driver’s seat for the business.
“Robert’s pleading with Terri to pass Australia Zoo to him,” a source said.
“He understands that it’ll be time for his mum to take a step back soon.
“He’s voiced to both Terri and Bindi that it would make more sense for him to take over,” they said.
“He’d do anything to make sure his dad’s zoo and the realization of all his mum’s hard work stays in the family,” the source concluded.
What do you think?