Robert Irwin has shared an emotional achievement that he, and the rest of the internet, believes his dad would have been very excited about.
The Irwins are recognized worldwide for their commitment to preserving wildlife and their natural habitats and have touched the hearts of countless individuals who grew up watching Steve's adventures on TV.
Even years after his tragic passing in 2006, the loss of Steve Irwin continues to reverberate across the globe.
Although the late conservationist passed away 17 years ago, his work is still being appreciated, as exemplified by a recent video shared by Robert.
He posted a video showing him releasing a baby Elseya Irwini turtle into its new enclosure at the renowned Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast.
The Elseya Irwini turtle, a unique freshwater species, was first discovered by Steve Irwin in the late 90s. This discovery was such a significant event in Steve's life that the species was named in his honor. Now, Robert has marked another milestone in the Irwin family's commitment to preserving wildlife.
In the video, Robert excitedly shared: "This is the first-ever Elseya Irwini turtle ever hatched for any zoological facility anywhere in the world. Dad originally discovered this species in the wild, and for the first time, we have a little baby, and he's going to get his first swim in a brand new pond."
Robert gently released the baby turtle into the water, where it immediately took to its new environment, swimming away into the distance.
"Dad would be stoked; we did it," Robert said, while clearly getting emotional about a moment that his dad would definitely have been proud of.
The heartwarming video gained attention and support from Robert's close friends and followers, who were quick to comment on the touching footage.
Among those expressing their admiration for the achievement was Robert's girlfriend, Rorie Buckey, who commented: "So cool."
In another Irwin throwback last week, Bindi Irwin provided a flashback to her father's legacy, showing Steve's love for all creatures.
The clip features Steve as he cares for the Australia Zoo, highlighting his bond with the animal kingdom.
In the video, Steve is seen on his bicycle, stepping in to mediate a quarrel between two feisty kookaburras. Bindi added a caption to the video: "This #flashback makes my heart happy. Dad's kindness and love for all species will live on forever."
As the video unfolds, Steve approaches the squabbling kookaburras, inquiring about the dispute. "What's going on here?", Steve asks, labeling it a "kookaburra fight." Demonstrating his connection with the animal world, he gently gathers the two birds, encouraging them to find harmony.
"Now stop it. You guys need to make up. You be friends now," Steve implores as the kookaburras grip each other's beaks. To diffuse the situation, Steve even makes kookaburra noises, eventually successfully separating the two animals. He concludes the heartwarming scene with his iconic exclamation, "Crikey," before resuming his bike ride.
In Steve's own words, his daily routine was all about "putting out fires, stopping fires, playing with the gators, koalas, kangaroos."
Steve would be so proud of the work his family continues to do.
