While the fires burn through Australia,Bindi Irwinis thinking about her late father,Steve Irwin.
The conservationist, 21, opened up in an Instagram post about her dad’s inspiring strength and the bushfires, whichexperts believe have now killed over 1 billion animals.
“Dad spent his life working so hard to protect wildlife and wild places, especially in Australia,” she wrote on Tuesdaybeside a photo of Steve holding a small marsupial.
“I wish he was here right now to give advice and strength during this time of devastation with the bushfires,” she continued. “I know that his spirit lives on through our conservation work and I hope together we can make him proud. ???”
Bindi isn’t the only Irwin family member to think about Steve amid the chaos in Australia.Speaking to PEOPLE this week, Bindi’s little brotherRobert Irwinand her motherTerri Irwinreflected on how Steve would’ve reacted to the fires and the mass devastation they’ve caused across the continent.
“I think if dad were around today, I’m sure he would be incredibly devastated,” said Robert, 16. “I hope he’d be proud of what we’re doing, trying to help as best as we can.”
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Added Terri, 55: “Steve was a great example for all of us. We all say live every day and live life to its fullest — he really did. And although there’s no word for it in the English language, he was the opposite of a procrastinator. He did everything now.”
“Definitely, yeah, I think so!” Robert chimed in.
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Bindi has been busy focusing on the hundreds of animals that she and her team at Australia Zoo have been treating and caring for.
Last Thursday, Bindi updated her Instagram followers andconfirmed that she was safe, but revealed that the wildlife hospital hadofficially hit the 90,000 patient mark.
Over the next few days, the young conservationist posted several photos of the animals in their care — some of which she said have survived, while others have died from their injuries.
“This is the heart-wrenching truth, every day is a battle to stand up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,”she recently wrote. “Now more than ever we need to work together to make a difference and protect our Mother Earth.”
Since September, at least 25 people have been killed while a whopping 12 million acres have been wiped out, destroying hundreds of homes and buildings. A seven-day state of emergency was declared on Dec. 23.
As of Wednesday, experts said the fires burning across Australia have likely leftmore than one billion animals dead, according toToday.
Ecologists from the University of Sydney believe 800 million total mammals, birds and reptiles have died in the state of New South Wales since September, professor Chris Dickman told the outlet. That massive number includes a third of the New South Wales koala population, and fatalities are only expected to increase.
source: people.com
