Bindi Irwin (left); Steve Irwin.Photo:Lisa O’Connor/Shutterstock; SGranitz/WireImage

Bindi Irwin, Steve Irwin

Lisa O’Connor/Shutterstock; SGranitz/WireImage

Bindi Irwinis opening up about losing her fatherSteve Irwin.

The wildlife conservationist, 26, said her grief for her dad Steve is a “scar on [my] heart” following histragic death in 2006in a candid new interview on the Monday, Feb. 3 episode of theA Life of Greatnesspodcast.

“Grief is a very funny thing where it changes over time,” Bindi said. “But I remember when I was little and dad had just died and every adult I saw would say to me, ‘Time heals all wounds’ and I remember thinking, ‘what in the heck does that mean?’ ”

“…Now, at 26, that information is wrong,” she continued. “… Time changes your grief, time changes your perspective, but I know first hand that the grief and sadness and the feelings of loss from losing dad. That feeling is just a part of me, its like a scar on your heart."

Bindi with her late father Steve in 2005.Newspix/Getty

Steve Irwin with his daughter, Bindi Irwin, and a 3-year-old alligator called ‘Russ’ at Australia Zoo.

Newspix/Getty

“As an 8-year-old, I just remember thinking, ‘why do people keep telling me that one day I might forget about him?’ " recalled Bindi. “It actually made me a little bit scared because I thought, in time, am I just going to forget about him?”

Themom of oneshared on the podcast that over the years since losing her father the impact of his absence “has changed.”

“So instead of only feeling devastation, I’m now able to feel love and light and warmth too as I remember the times we had with him,” said Bindi. “I feel the greatest sense of wanting to make him proud and carry on his work and make sure his legacy lives on.”

“None of us were prepared for losing Dad, none of us were prepared for the outpouring that came after he was gone,” She added. “… it was unbelievable.”

Bindi Irwin pictured in May 2024.Ethan Miller/Getty

Bindi Irwin attends the Steve Irwin gala to support the Wildlife Warriors conservationist organization at Bellagio Resort & Casino on May 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ethan Miller/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Bindi’s latest interview discussing her late father comes ahead of what would have been Steve’s 63rd birthday on Feb. 22.

In February 2024, Bindi paid a birthday tribute to her dad, writing onInstagram, “Happy Birthday, Dad. Your legacy will live on forever,” alongside a series of photos of her as a child with the late star.

source: people.com