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The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Inside meagre fortune Steve Irwin left to his children Robert & Bindi after spending most of his money helping animals
STEVE Irwin was only able to leave his children a meagre fortune in his will after spending most of his money helping animals. The beloved crocodile hunter, 44, is still regarded as one of the world's most famous zookeepers with his legacy continuing to live on through his beloved family. 8 8 8 His success made him a household name across the globe through bumper TV deals and roles in Hollywood blockbusters in the years before his tragic death in 2006. Irwin was filming a documentary in the Great Barrier Reef when he was killed by a stingray whose barb pierced through his heart. The Australian legend reportedly had a net worth of over £7.5million at the time of his death. He left behind his wife Terri, now 61, and two children Robert, 21, and Bindi, 27. Despite the dad-of-two's huge career earnings he surprisingly left them only a small inheritance. He left Robert and Bindi - who were both aged just two and eight at the time - with a life insurance policy which sat at just $200,000 (£98,000), according to The reason for this was because Irwin consistently reinvested in animals. He ran the iconic Queensland conservation facility which included The Australia Zoo and and The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. These saw him help to rescue, rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild after they suffered injuries or attacks. In order to keep the sprawling conservation park operating to the level Irwin wanted he constantly pumped money he had earned into it. Steve Irwin's son Robert showing he's just like Dad Steve's widow, Terri, revealed the unexpected will actually left the family in debt due to the lack of money being inherited. She told Australian Financial Review in 2024: Everything was reinvested into conservation work. "I was in debt... and Steve's life insurance, I think, was the sum total of $200,000, which didn't even cover half of one week's payroll." But in the 16 years since the zookeeper's death, Terri, Robert and Bindi have managed to keep Steve's legacy alive and the zoo open. Young Robert has gone on to keep the family name firmly in the mind of the public as he has lived a similar life to his dads. He was first thrust into the public eye when at just one month old, Steve held him in his arm while feeding a saltwater crocodile. Robert is now best known as an Australian conservationist, television presenter, zookeeper and wildlife photographer. He has now even been named as the new face of the latest Tourism Australia campaign. 8 8 8 The adverts will be showcased in the US to try and promote people to head down under - marking how famous Robert and the family remains. Bindi has also helped to keep the conservation facility thriving as she continues to work in Queensland and campaign for animal welfare. She was already a famous face on TV alongside her dad in the early 2000s and has continued to be an on screen personality in the years after. She is also happily married to husband Chandler Powell, and they have a daughter called Grace who was born in 2021. 8 8
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Humboldt penguin: Public given the chance to name penguin chick
What name do you think suits this penguin chick the best - Winnie or Pebble? The Humboldt penguin chick is the newest addition to the zoo at Sewerby Hall and staff there want the public to pick her name from the two options put forward by the zoo team. Winnie was suggested in honour of her mum, who is called Twinnie, and the inspiration for Pebble is because she is smallest penguin in the name also fits in with the names of older big siblings Pickle, Crackle and Bumble who was born last spring. Visitors can comment on the zoo's social media post to vote for their favourite name. Her birth was a pleasant surprise for the staff there as they were unsure if Twinnie, would lay an egg this year due to her penguins live an average of 15 to 20 years, although this can vary due to the species, but for a penguin like Twinnie to have a baby at 23 years of age is quite laid the egg on Tuesday 4 March and dad Sigsbee also took turns sitting on the egg, which hatched on 15 April. Head zookeeper John Pickering said: ''We are pleased to say that the chick is doing great and loves swimming with her siblings Pickle, Crackle and Bumble.''Our penguins are extremely popular with visitors and we are certain that our new penguin will add even more personality to our ever-growing penguin family here at the zoo.''Humboldt penguins are classed as vulnerable to extinction.
New York Times
5 days ago
- General
- New York Times
A Zoo in Denmark Wants to Feed Your Pets to Its Predators
A zoo in Denmark is asking pet owners to donate their animal companions — their guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and even small horses — to feed to its predators. In a Facebook post last Thursday, the Aalborg Zoo noted that it welcomed animals that, regardless of circumstance, might be nearing the end of their lives. These animals would be 'gently euthanized' by trained employees and then used as food for the zoo's predators, like its European lynx, the zoo notes on its website. Lions and tigers are also part of the zoo's predator exhibits. The donations would help the zoo mimic the natural food chain by feeding whole prey to its predators, the post said: 'This way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition, and well-being for our predators.' The post linked to the zoo's website, which described the process for donating horses as food. 'Our needs vary throughout the year, and there may be a waiting list,' the site explains. For horses, certain conditions must be met, including the horse not having recently been treated for an illness. 'The horse will be delivered alive to Aalborg Zoo, where the horse will be euthanized by a zookeeper and a veterinarian and then slaughtered,' the zoo website says. The zoo also accepts chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, during weekdays 'between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., but no more than four at a time.' The Facebook post attracted swift backlash, with one commenter describing 'a terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark.' Another commenter wrote that 'feeding pets is absolutely unacceptable.' Aalborg Zoo did not immediately respond to request for comment. A spokeswoman for the zoo told Popular Science that 'for many years' its employees 'have fed our carnivores with smaller livestock.' Other commenters on Facebook praised the initiative and even requested more details about how to donate their animals. One described their own experience donating a rabbit as a 'super nice and professional experience.' Signe Flyvholm, who lives in Denmark and has visited Aalborg Zoo for the past 40 years, said that the social media post made her want to donate her horse. 'She could make a difference by being used as food,' Ms. Flyvholm said. 'She is a very loved horse.' Ms. Flyvholm said her horse needed to be put down because the cartilage in its hooves was turning into bone. But the horse, which weighed over 2,000 pounds, was too big for the zoo, she said. Instead, Ms. Flyvholm decided to donate her horse to a different organization that will use the animal for biofuel or fertilizer production. It's not the first time that Denmark's zoos have come under fire for their unvarnished approach to death. In 2014, the Copenhagen Zoo euthanized a healthy young giraffe named Marius because his genes were already well-represented among the captive giraffes. The zoo invited members of the public to watch the giraffe's autopsy as an educational opportunity and then fed Marius's remains to some of its big cats, including its lions. Weeks later, the zoo euthanized four of those lions: two cubs and their parents. The zoo said the lions were killed to prevent the male lion from breeding with his daughters and to prevent a newly arrived young male lion from attacking the cubs. The deaths prompted an outcry from animal rights activists but also reflected a trans-Atlantic philosophical divide toward zoo management. American zoos often lean heavily on contraception to prevent zoo populations from booming, whereas European zoos often allow their animals to breed — arguing that it is good for the animals to be able to engage in these natural behaviors — and later euthanize 'surplus' animals.
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Denmark zoo asks public to donate unwanted small pets or horses to feed captive predators
A zoo in Denmark is asking the public for donations of unwamted small pets or horses to feed its captive predators. "In zoos, we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals - in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity," Aalborg Zoo said in a post on social media. The zoo in northern Denmark said that chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs were an important part of the diet of its predators, which need "whole prey," reminiscent of what they would hunt in the wild. "If you have a healthy animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us. The animals are gently euthanized by trained staff and are afterwards used as fodder. That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being for our predators," Aalborg Zoo said. The zoo said it accepts donated rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., but no more than four at a time. It also accepts horses for feeding its animals, which it says on its website are euthanized by a zookeeper and a veterinarian. Horses to be donated for animal food must not have been treated for illness for at least a month, and are subject to size restrictions, the zoo said on its website. They must also be in a condition where it is safe for them to be transported. Given that the horse is a donation, the donor can receive a tax deduction for the value of the horse. "Our needs vary throughout the year, and there may be a waiting list," Aalborg Zoo said.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Baby Hippo's Stubborn Refusal To Go Inside Is the Ultimate Toddler Moment
Baby Hippo's Stubborn Refusal To Go Inside Is the Ultimate Toddler Moment originally appeared on PetHelpful. As any pet parent, dog sitter, and vet tech knows, attitude comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether it's an angry house cat, a sassy squirrel, or a massive mad bull, animals' emotions can be just as prominent and distinct as humans'. Zookeepers know this, too! Training and raising wild animals can come with their fair share of challenges, including stubborn tantrums like this one that the @tanganyikawildlifepark shared on July 27. At the Kansas Zoo, a baby hippo named Mars gave his handler a run for her money when it was time to wind down for the day. He wasn't ready to go inside yet, and he had no qualms letting her know it! Talk about a toddler tantrum! Mars was not about to go inside without a fight, regardless of what her handler did. Whether she put him in the right direction, tempted him with a game of tag, or gently herded him toward the door, the baby animal wasn't having it. "That's the most adorable spicy potato I've ever seen!" one commenter gushed. Isn't he irresistible? Even though he's acting like a naughty little kid, he's also such a baby when his wildlife handler is Mars's latest mood may be, this 'ungovernable' zoo animal has pet parents and moms feeling seen. One mama wrote, "My toddler does that at bedtime too. Glad to know I'm not the only one dealing with this." LOL! Many pets are also experts at turning into dead weight when it's time to go somewhere they're not excited to be, but Mars takes the cake when it comes to stubbornness. Mars the Baby Hippo This adorable harbinger of chaos was born at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in late June to proud parents Posy and Pluto. Mars (whose name was likely inspired by his dad's), weighed only 13 pounds at birth, but as an adult pygmy hippopotamus, he'll weigh somewhere between 300 and 700 pounds! Luckily for the zookeepers, Mars is still small enough to be easily handled. When he's an adult, though, his stubbornness is going to be so much harder to control! Thankfully, that can be left as a problem for another day. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Baby Hippo's Stubborn Refusal To Go Inside Is the Ultimate Toddler Moment first appeared on PetHelpful on Aug 1, 2025 This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
