Australian Outback

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Lore & Background

Terri Raines started her own wildlife rehabilitation facility called Cougar Country in 1986, where she educated the public and released predator mammals such as foxes, raccoons, bobcats, and cougars back into the wild. The facility handled up to 300 animals each year. In 1989, she worked as a veterinary technician at an emergency veterinary hospital to further her knowledge on animal welfare. After relocating to Queensland, Australia, and closing Cougar Country upon her marriage to Steve Irwin, footage of their honeymoon—spent trapping crocodiles together—was shot by John Stainton and later became the first episode of *The Crocodile Hunter*. Debuting in Australia in 1992, the program became successful in over 130 countries through its broadcast on Animal Planet and reached an estimated 500 million people. The Irwins owned and operated Australia Zoo while filming the series. Irwin and her husband founded Wildlife Warriors, a non-profit organization, in 2002 to fund international conservation efforts. Following Steve's death, she became the owner and director of Australia Zoo. She signed on to a three-year research program supporting the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University, funding two $250,000 research projects on humpback whales. 'Learning about whales is part of a bigger picture,' she said. 'Our oceans are in jeopardy and the more research we gather about whales, the more knowledge we have to help us save, protect and preserve our delicate oceans.' Irwin expressed support for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and was present at the launching of one of the organization's vessels, which was renamed after her husband. From October 2018 to February 2022, she starred in the reality television series *Crikey! It's the Irwins* alongside her two children. She announced a $8 million wildlife camping project in 2019, which was expected to draw 39,000 visitors each year. The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, a luxury hotel on the grounds of Australia Zoo, opened in 2023.

In Their Own Story

On the morning of September 4, 2006, Terri Irwin and her children were reportedly trekking through Cradle Mountain in Tasmania when her husband Steve was killed after the barb of a short-tail stingray pierced his chest at Batt Reef, near Port Douglas, Queensland, while taking part in the production of an underwater documentary. A private funeral was held five days later in Caloundra; Steve was buried in a private ceremony at Australia Zoo later that day. A public memorial service took place in Australia Zoo's 5,500-seat Crocoseum on September 30, 2006, broadcast live on television in Australia, the U.S., and Asia, garnering over 300 million viewers. After the memorial service, the Nine Network aired an exclusive interview between Irwin and television presenter Ray Martin, which attracted 2.9 million viewers. On October 31, 2006, Irwin was invited to the Royal Albert Hall to present a Special Recognition Award to Sir David Attenborough at the British National Television Awards. She cited Attenborough as a great inspiration to her husband during a short speech; he, in turn, praised Steve for introducing new audiences to the natural world. Michael Barnes, the Queensland State Coroner, reported that authorities handed the original video of Steve's death to Irwin in late December 2006, and destroyed all copies of the fatal encounter to prevent the footage from being made public. Irwin published her memoir, *My Steve*, in November 2007 through Simon & Schuster Australia. She became a naturalized citizen of Australia on November 15, 2009, coinciding with the Steve Irwin Day celebrations taking place at Australia Zoo's Crocoseum.

Reader's Guide

Terri Irwin was appointed an honorary Member of the Order of Australia on March 15, 2006, for her services to wildlife conservation, the tourism industry, and support for charitable organizations. Her appointment became substantive upon her Australian naturalization ceremony. She won the Queensland Telstra Business Women's Award in 2007, and was named a finalist for the 2015 Queensland Australian of the Year. Irwin is an honorary senior fellow of the University of the Sunshine Coast. She was presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Queensland for her work in conservation, research, and support for high-quality science. In 2023, she was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in recognition of her 'outstanding business leadership and for internationally recognized contributions to wildlife and habitat conservation and to Australian tourism.' Irwin has not dated since her husband's death, and is not interested in pursuing another romantic relationship. She explained that while she finds it 'wonderful' when widows find love again, she already experienced her 'happily ever after.'

Did You Know?

• Terri Irwin founded a wildlife rehabilitation facility called Cougar Country in 1986, which handled up to 300 animals each year.
• Footage of Terri and Steve Irwin's honeymoon, spent trapping crocodiles, became
• Terri Irwin was appointed an honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2021 Australia Day Honours list.