Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Robert Irwin Opens Up About Grief, Crocodile Research Milestone on Anderson Cooper's Podcast

He frames his grief as a source of resolve in carrying forward his father’s conservation mission.

Overview

  • On the March 10 episode of Anderson Cooper’s All There Is, Robert Irwin became emotional as he said he still speaks to his late father and feels a warming presence in the bush, often asking, “How do I go forward?”
  • He recounted leading a Northern Australia expedition that captured the same crocodile Steve Irwin had tagged about 20 years earlier, confirmed through satellite tracking and found in the identical location.
  • He described the capture as a rite of passage and a reassuring sign during his first time serving as team leader on a research mission.
  • He said restoring Steve Irwin’s motorbike and now riding it daily at Australia Zoo helped him process grief by giving him a tangible connection to his father.
  • He praised his mother, Terri Irwin, as a stabilizing parental figure after Steve’s death and noted that constant public attention has complicated his grieving journey.