Terri Irwin’s plan to save Australia Zoo: Steve’s widow ‘prepares for a sit-down TV special’ after the coronavirus pandemic left the family business on the brink of collapse
Terri Irwin revealed in June that Australia Zoo was on the brink of collapse due to the devastating effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on tourism.
But according to Woman’s Day, the wife of the late ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin is organising a paid-for TV special to ‘save’ the family business.
Terri, 56, is reportedly planning a tell-all interview with her children, Bindi, 22 and Robert, 16, to mark the 14th anniversary of Steve’s death.
Terri Irwin’s plan to save Australia Zoo: Steve’s widow is preparing for a sit-down TV special to reverse the family’s fortunes, after the coronavirus pandemic destroyed the tourism industry
A source claimed: ‘It’ll be highly emotional and a personal look inside their close-knit family. It was actually Bindi’s idea – she really wants to honour her dad.’
‘Nothing will be off limits… They intend to share old photos and videos of Steve that show the late Crocodile Hunter enjoying life with his wife and two kids.’
Steve tragically died on September 4, 2006, after a stingray attack at Batt Reef near Port Douglas, Queensland. He was 44 years old.
Candid: Terri reportedly hopes the paid-for TV special will ‘save’ the family business. The proposed interview will coincide with the 14th anniversary of Steve Irwin’s (left) tragic death
Back in June, in a promo for a special episode of Crikey! It’s the Irwins, Terri revealed she was unable to pay the zoo’s bills because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said the zoo was spending a whopping $400,000 per week on wages, plus $78,914 on food for the animals.
To make ends meet, she was forced to cut jobs and operate with a skeleton crew of employees to help maintain the business during lockdown.
‘I’m the pilot of a big plane and the plane is going down, and I’m handing out all the parachutes I’ve got,’ she said.
‘Sometimes at the end of the day I’ve just got my head in my hands wondering what we’re going to do tomorrow.’
Struggles: Back in June, in a promo for a special episode of Crikey! It’s the Irwins, Terri revealed she was unable to pay the zoo’s bills because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured (left to right) Robert Irwin, Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell
Terri added that she ‘can’t even come close’ to paying the bills.
Stressing the importance of the family business, she confessed: ‘This was Steve’s passion. Steve would say to me, “If anything happens to me, make sure the zoo continues.” So it’s really important that we keep this going.’
Bindi, who married her longtime boyfriend, Chandler Powell, in March, even called off her honeymoon to help her mother out with the rapidly-declining zoo.
Helping hand: Bindi (right), who married her longtime boyfriend, Chandler Powell (left), in March, even called off her honeymoon to help her mother out with the rapidly-declining zoo