Steve Irwin: Crocodile Hunter’s wife Terri reveals the only animal to make wildlife icon ‘nervous’
He wrangled crocodiles, played with lions and bottle-fed tigers, but the only animal to ever make Aussie wildlife legend Steve Irwin ‘nervous’ is one rarely listed in predator guidebooks.
He wrangled crocodiles, played with lions and bottle-fed tigers, but the only animal to ever make Aussie wildlife legend Steve Irwin “nervous” is one rarely listed in predator guidebooks.
Known to many as The Crocodile Hunter due to his successful reality TV series, Steve’s wife Terri said it was the humble parrot that regularly caught the late environmentalist off-guard.
In a tribute to World Parrot Day on May 31, the Australia Zoo owner shared a photo of Steve smiling alongside a vibrant parrot that perched itself on a log.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“You might not know this, but the only animal that made Steve a little nervous was the naughty parrot!” Terri captioned the image, posted to Instagram.
“Every parrot tried to get in a quick bite before Steve could react!”
The throwback photo received praise from daughter Bindi, 27, who has continued to work intermittently at Australia Zoo alongside her brother Robert, 22, and mother Terri, 62, who acts as CEO.
“I love this photo so much!” Bindi said.
While a raft of fans enjoyed the opportunity to indulge in a fleeting moment of Steve’s adventure-filled life, others could relate to the very pragmatic fears he may have harboured.
“As I’m currently sporting a galah bite to my top lip and one on each thumb I can completely understand his nervousness! Got to love them though,” one person said.
“Parrots are so cheeky! Love that even with nerves, he truly admired, appreciated, and loved them,” another added.
One more highlighted the impressive strength of a parrot’s bite.
“I actually remember and when you realise as I’m sure Steve did, they can snap a walnut in half with one crunchy bite! A finger doesn’t have a chance! I had a double yellow African parrot from my dad and he about took my X wife’s finger off! He hated her, smart birdie!” they wrote.
Steve’s family has ensured his memory has never faded since his death in 2006, with the conservationist succumbing to a stingray barb that pierced his heart while snorkelling off the coast of Queensland.
He died aged 44.
Terri and Robert recently attended the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas on behalf of the Wildlife Warriors non-profit.
The global organisation was founded by Steve and Terri in 2002 with the aim of expanding their efforts to protect injured, threatened or endangered wildlife.
Originally published on PerthNow
