Terri Irwin American naturalist, author, widow of Australian naturalist Steve Irwin Date of Birth: 20.07.1964 Country: USA

Terry Irwin: An American naturalist, author, and owner of an Australian zoo

Terry Penelope Irwin, an American naturalist, author, and the widow of Australian naturalist Steve Irwin, was born on July 20, 1964. She rose to fame alongside her husband on the popular Animal Planet show "The Crocodile Hunter," a documentary series about nature. She also appeared in spin-offs such as "The Crocodile Hunter Diaries" and "Croc Files." In the series, Terry would lure crocodiles into cages, catch snakes, and interact with wild predators.

Terry moved to Australia after marrying Steve Irwin in 1992. She was featured in the first episode of the animated series "The Big Gag," where she was satirically portrayed, including the mention of her father's death.

Irwin was born in Eugene, Oregon, USA, as the youngest daughter in a family involved in the business of industrial gardening. As a young child, Terry received a lot of attention from her father, who frequently brought home injured animals from the road, often hit by trucks. This ultimately shaped her destiny, as she became determined to financially support and rehabilitate wildlife. In 1986, while working in the family business, Terry began working at the "Cougar Country" animal rehabilitation center in the United States. The center provided rehabilitation courses for animals such as red foxes, opossums, raccoons, bears, lynxes, and cougars, with the aim of releasing them back into the wild. Over time, "Cougar Country" expanded into a large enterprise, dealing with over 300 animals annually. In 1989, Terry joined an emergency veterinary hospital as a veterinary technician to further deepen her knowledge in animal conservation work. With little free time, she managed to balance her responsibilities in the family business, "Cougar Country," and her personal pets, which included fifteen cats, several birds, and a dog.

In 1991, Terry embarked on a tour of Australia, visiting various wildlife rehabilitation centers. It was during this time that she met Steve Irwin, whose father managed an Australian zoo, and she was captivated by him. Their relationship quickly turned into a passionate romance, resulting in their marriage on June 4, 1992. Their honeymoon was documented and became the first episode of the wildlife series "The Crocodile Hunter," which gained rapid success in the United States. The couple intended to settle in Australia, but Terry had to leave her job at "Cougar Country" in America. However, as a co-owner of an Australian zoo and a participant in a popular show, she believed she could do much more for wildlife conservation.

In 2002, a film featuring the Irwins, "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course," was released. In an interview before the birth of their second child, Terry Irwin spoke about her marriage and her work with her husband, stating, "We don't drink, we don't smoke; we're very much in love and happy in our marriage. We love our little girl...and we believe in what we're doing..."

In 2006, Irwin became an honorary recipient of the Order of Australia, established by Queen Elizabeth II.

Terry and her children were in Tasmania when they learned about Steve's death on September 4, 2006. He died from chest injuries and heart damage caused by a stingray's tail during the filming of an underwater documentary near Port Douglas in Queensland. Terry announced that a memorial service would be held on September 20, 2006, at the Australian zoo in Queensland, which would be open to the public. Those who wished to bid farewell to Steve were requested to donate to the Irwin's "Wildlife Warriors" fund. The service took place at the Crocoseum, a 5,500-seat amphitheater that Steve had built and was proud of. Terry insisted on holding the ceremony at the Crocoseum, as it held sentimental value. She expressed her gratitude to all well-wishers for their love and support for her and her family.

Terry was too distraught to speak at the ceremony, remaining by her young son Bob's side during the farewell speech. However, her daughter Bindi was able to express her love for her father to the attendees. Channel 9, an Australian television channel, aired an interview with Terry and Ray Martin on Wednesday, September 27. During the interview, Terry discussed her intentions to further expand the Australian zoo. She stated that she had made this promise to her husband.

On October 31, 2006, Terry was invited to the Albert Hall in the United Kingdom to present a special award to Sir David Attenborough at the British National Television Awards ceremony. When she took the stage, the audience erupted in endless applause, showing their support for Terry in light of the tragic events surrounding her husband. She could barely hold back tears as she witnessed the British people's response, and even Alan Fletcher, who was being filmed, struggled to conceal his emotions.

Terry mentioned that Attenborough had been a great inspiration for her late husband, stating, "If there is one person who directly inspired my husband, it is the person being honored tonight."

On January 3, 2007, Terry received a video documenting the events leading up to Steve's death. She stated that the footage would never be made public and mentioned that she and her family would not watch it. On January 11, 2007, in an interview, she revealed that she had destroyed the footage.