Robert Irwin’s “honour of a lifetime” is following in the footsteps of his father, the late Steve Irwin.
The teenaged wildlife warrior appeared on Sunrise on Friday after a video went viral of Steve talking about how proud he would be when his children were ready to take over his mission of wildlife conservation.
Robert shared the video on Father’s Day and it garnered more than 12.9 million views.
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“I think what strikes me every single day … is just how alive Dad’s message and legacy truly is,” Robert told Sunrise.
“The amount of time, effort, love, blood, sweat and tears that he put into his message, and also to our family, is something that we’ll take away and will live on forever.
“Just that spirit of living every day to the fullest of loving life, and just going like a bull at a gate every single day, living it to 110 per cent, it’s the way to be and something that I will carry with me forever.”
Robert said that taking on that mission “is the honour of my lifetime, that’s for sure.”
Asked by hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington if he believes his dad is “proud”, the 19-year-old said he “hopes so”.
“More than anything, I don’t want to… It’s a hard thing, it’s big shoes to fill, but I see myself following in those footsteps.”
Robert said if he could live up to “half the life he (Dad) did and hopefully inspire as many people as he did, mate, I’ll be one happy man, that’s for sure”.
The video in question showed Steve in an old interview pondering if there was “anything in this world that would want to make me give away what I’m doing now?”
“Yes,” he firmly answers his own question.
“Yes, there is. When my children can take the football that I call wildlife conservation and run it up.
“When they’re ready to run up our mission, I will gladly step aside and I guarantee you it’ll be the proudest moment of my life and my job will be done.”
Through tears, Steve continued, “Then and only then will I know that I have achieved my ultimate goal: To be able to stand aside and let them run up my mission.”
Dispersed among the interview snippets was throwback footage showing Steve with a younger Bindi and Robert.
Also included in the edit was a haunting scene involving Steve and a crocodile – and another showing Robert, now grown up, in the exact same spot at Australia Zoo’s Crocoseum.
Robert’s mum Terri Irwin responded to the video online, writing, “I know your dad is so proud of you. I love you❤️”.
Sister Bindi Irwin said, “Dad is SO. PROUD. OF. YOU. He’s always with us. Love you”.
Robert’s girlfriend Rorie Buckey wrote, “Love you”.
Robert and Rorie formally confirmed their relationship on August 24 when the wildlife warrior shared a selfie of the pair.
Rorie is the niece of late Australian actor Heath Ledger.
Since the initial post, both have actively been sharing more photos, particularly from their crocodile conservation trip earlier this year.
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