Bindi Irwin has been opening up about the loss over her father Steve Irwin when she was a little girl, as a source exclusively reveals to Closer how she’s more dedicated than ever to protecting and extending his legacy now that she’s all grown up and married to a man her friends and family say carries the same energy.
“Bindi feels the best way to honor her dad is to carry his mission forward,” the insider says. “He devoted his life to wildlife conservation, so now she does, too.”
Bindi, 26, has been hard at work alongside her brother, Robert, working as the CEO of Australia Zoo, which was opened by her grandfather Bob Irwin before being passed down to Steve and then to her, in addition to many other science- and conservation-focused projects.
“She’s got her wildlife foundation and she’s got so many projects going through that, all over the world, not just Australia,” the source explains. “She also married a man she’s just as passionate about conservation as her dad was. She’s sure that her dad pulled some strings in heaven to get her a partner that has so many of his qualities.”
The legendary Crocodile Hunter’s first born tied the knot with Chandler Powell in 2020 and they now share one daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, who was born in March 2021. Florida native Chandler, 28, was a professional wakeboarder when he happened to meet Bindi while visiting their family’s zoo on a competition trip to Australia.
“She ended up giving me a tour, and we ended up staying in touch ever since,” the young man said in 2015, when they were teenagers.
They grew closer and eventually started dating, with Bindi gushing, “Thankfully I’ve found someone who is an outdoors kind of person. We’ll go have adventures or picnic in the park.” He then relocated to Australia to be with her as things got serious in 2018. “I’m so lucky that I’ve met someone who is excited and up for the challenge of our wonderful busy life,” Bindi said. “We’re having a great time throwing Chandler into everything.”
Though Robert, 21, wasn’t about to let just anyone sweep his sister away. “I wanted to kind of test him,” Bindi’s younger brother said. “Just to see what would happen. So we had him feeding alligators and he did awesome. I’m very impressed. He’s great with wildlife so I approve.”
Now a welcomed part of the Irwin family, the source notes, “People always comment on how much Chandler is like Steve, he’s so positive and hardworking.”
Only eight years old when her father died in 2006, Bindi remembers him fondly and has been entrusted by her mother, Terri, with continuing his legacy alongside her brother. Chandler, too, has been “such a huge support for Bindi, when she’s grieving her dad, of course she turns to her mom, who’s an amazing help, but Chandler is a rock too,” the source says.
“She still has days where she’s overwhelmed with the pain of the loss. That will never go away. But most days she’s able to feel close to her dad through her work with wildlife, she knows he’s with her.”
