Bindi Irwin Explains Absence From Dancing With the Stars Ballroom

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Becoming the Crocodile Hunter was more than Steve Irwin's career path—it was his destiny. 

"I was born into it," he told Yahoo! Australia in 2002. "Didn't have a choice."

From a young age, Steve joined his herpetologist dad Bob Irwin and wildlife rehabilitator mom Lyn Irwin on expeditions and helped at their reptile park in Australia's Queensland. He then captured and relocated crocodiles as part of a public safety and conservation effort by the government.

In 1991, Steve took over his parents' reptile park. It was there he met wife Terri Irwin while she was visiting from Oregon. After they wed in 1992, they began filming the docuseries The Crocodile Hunter.Steve and Terri continued their passion of spreading conservation education through their TV shows and park, which they grew into the Australia Zoo, and became parents to daughter Bindi Irwin and son Robert Irwin.

Steve died on September 4, 2006, after a stingray's barb entered his heart while he was filming in the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44. However, his legacy lives on through his work and family.

"The proudest thing I've achieved personally," he said in a video shared by Australia Zoo, "is my children."

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Like Steve, Terri developed a love of animals at an early age—working at an emergency veterinary hospital and wildlife rehabilitation organization before meeting her perfect mate.

"I think it’s definitely fate that brought us together," she told Oprah Winfrey in 2002, "and that ability to seize opportunity and not be afraid. Steve’s really good at not being afraid. But when I met him and he said, 'Do you want to get married and live in the Australian bush and catch crocodiles with me?,' it was a bit of a leap of faith to say here’s a wonderful opportunity in the most incredible, wonderful, sexy guy I’ve ever met."

Following Steve's death, Terri continues to run Australia Zoo, lead their nonprofit Wildlife Warriors and drive conservation efforts. She also released her book My Steve in 2007, became an Australian citizen in 2009 and starred on the show Crikey! It's the Irwins with her kids from 2018 to 2022.

"My life is very full and very rich," she told Us Weekly in May 2025. "And every day I wish Steve was here, but I'm so lucky."

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Born in July 1998, Bindi has grown up on fans' screens.

After making her TV debut on The Crocodile Hunter, she went on to star on shows like Bindi: The Jungle Girl and Crikey! It's the Irwins. She also won season 21 of Dancing With the Stars in 2015. 

In addition to following in her parents' footsteps with her conservation work, Bindi is the author of the children's book You Are a Wildlife Warrior!: Saving Animals & the Planet and an advocate for those battling endometriosis, having shared her own journey.

She also welcomed the next generation of Irwins by becoming mom to daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell in 2021, one year after tying the knot with longtime love Chandler Powell.

Many will remember when an 8-year-old Bindi spoke at her father's funeral, and she continues to keep his memory alive.

"To the world, you will forever be remembered as the greatest Wildlife Warrior," she wrote on Instagram in February 2025. "To me, you’ll always be the most incredible dad and now our family’s guiding light. I love you and I miss you every day."

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Five years after Bindi was born, Robert made his debut in December 2003.

And just like his family members, he's used the power of television to teach others about nature, including on series like Wild But True and Crikey! It's the Irwins.

Separately, Robert has hosted shows like I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, done some modeling and is currently competing on season 34 of Dancing With the Stars. He also knows his way behind the camera and is a wildlife photographer.

Otherwise, he stays plenty busy working at the Australia Zoo and continuing his dad's work.

"He is my superhero. He always will be," Robert told BBC Radio 2 in 2024. "He was I think a superhero to an entire generation. There is not a day goes by where someone doesn't share a story about him. To hear that, it really means the absolute world. It's an honor. It really is an honor to make sure everything he lived and died for continues."

Instagram / Bindi Irwin

Just as how Steve met Terri when she was an American tourist at the Australia Zoo, Bindi met her Florida-born husband Chandler at the same place.

That fateful moment took place in 2013, when Chandler (then a professional wakeboarder) was in Australia for a competition and went on a zoo tour led by Bindi.

"We hit it off right away," he recalled on a 2024 episode of the In Real Life Podcast. "There was no looking back as soon as we met each other. It was like we were on the same wavelength immediately."

Because they were just teenagers at the time, Chandler spoke to Bindi's mom before pursuing a relationship.

"I didn't hear from Chandler for quite a while afterwards," Bindi told Entertainment Tonight in 2016, "and that's because he sent a letter asking if he could stay in contact with me."

In a full-circle moment, they then tied the knot at the Australia Zoo in 2020.

"Marrying your best friend ..." Bindi wrote on Instagram in May 2025, "10/10 would recommend."

Instagram / Bindi Irwin

Grace entered the world in March 2021 and quickly inherited her family's love of wildlife. Although, Bindi isn't having her daughter get close to the crocodiles yet.

"When she is 18, and if she wants to help us feed the crocodiles, that’s great — but not now and not anytime soon," she told TODAY.com in February 2025. "I understand how wildlife behaves and...I don’t ever have Grace in a situation or meeting an animal that she’s not ready for. Her world pretty much revolves around koalas, tortoises, giraffes and red pandas… which I know she’s totally good with."

And yes, Grace knows all about her grandfather Steve.

"I always said I want to make sure that Grace knows Dad, her 'Grandpa Crocodile' as she calls him," Bindi gushed to Us Weekly in May 2024, "and it's really special watching her just loving the documentaries."