It’s been a decade since the beloved Steve Irwin passed away. We’ve not only lost an animal lover, but we’ve lost a truly amazing person- a kind, charismatic, captivating soul. We’ve lost a person who was extremely passionate about life and about what he did for a living. It was his own passion for animals that sparked a flame within every single one of us, the way he treated these beings, the way he talked about them, the way he handled them, the massive respect and childlike wonder he had for animals. Very few people were unfamiliar with the antics of the Crocodile Hunter, and now both the legacy and Steve’s passion has been passed on to his son- Robert Irwin.
Robert Irwin is without a doubt an astounding young man. Growing up in a zoo, he’s had many opportunities to learn things and become familiar with the ins and outs of a lot of animals.
So when he got a chance to share his knowledge at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he saw it as his opportunity to shine.
Even though he was only three when his dad passed away, Robert seems to be the exact copy of his father. Not only does he look like him, but he acts like him. He talks about the animals like each and every one of them is the most fascinating thing in the room, he shifts all of his attention to the animal that comes through the door, and he knows the characteristics about the specific animal that’s standing in front of him.
You just can’t catch Robert Irwin off guard. With the African dwarf crocodile he knows it won’t react aggressively to Jimmy petting him, he knows how Mickey the screaming armadillo will react to a tickle, he knows not to panic when a red-tail boa named Lady is wrapping herself around his torso, and he knows the sloths’ favourite snacks and their characteristics (Valentino likes veggies but doesn’t like to cuddle, unlike Serenity who adores grapes and cuddles). To be brutally honest, we would’ve lost it with the boa.
His enthusiasm can be seen from the very beginning when Jimmy showed him a photo of his dad and himself, with a green iguana in between.
Robert is immediately taken by the animal on the photo, and he starts talking about it the first chance he gets.
We have to say that Steve would’ve been immensely proud to know what a spectacular young man his son has grown up to be, and he would’ve been glad to know that little Robert inherited his own love for all living beings.
The public reaction was phenomenal. With his charm and charisma, he had won over everyone in the audience and behind the screen.
To support both the Australian zoo and the Irwin family, and to help keep Steve’s dream alive, you can hop over and buy tickets for the Steve Irwin Gala Dinner that’s taking place in Los Angeles on November 15th.
What do you think about the Crocodile Hunter’s legacy? Tweet us over at CelebMix!