Bindi Irwin was only eight years old when she lost her father, Steve. The man the world knew as “The Crocodile Hunter” passed away on September 4, 2006 at the age of 44.
Steve was passionate about animals, conservation, and the natural world. Bindi and her brother, Robert, inherited his passions, so they’ve been keeping his legacy alive.
That legacy also continues through Bindi’s one-year-old daughter, Grace. Her full name is Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, with both of her middle names honoring her late grandfather.
“Her middle names, Warrior Irwin, are a tribute to my dad and his legacy as the most incredible Wildlife Warrior,” Bindi said when she announced Grace’s birth on March 25, 2021.
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Before Grace was born, Bindi and her husband, Chandler, called her “Baby Wildlife Warrior.” Bindi told The Bump that her dad used the term “Wildlife Warrior” all the time:
“Being a Wildlife Warrior means to stand up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Bindi said. “We’ve been referring to our daughter as our Baby Wildlife Warrior. I know in my heart that she will forge her own path to make our planet a better place through her connections with the gorgeous animals that we protect here at Australia Zoo and the conservation work we do with animal species around the globe.”
In a recent interview for a PEOPLE cover story, Bindi said she has shown Grace some videos of Steve, and shared how she’s reacted to them.
“We have so many documentaries of Dad, and we’re always playing them for Grace,” Bindi said. “It’s so fun to watch her study him. I didn’t realize how much Dad’s passion for life and his animated facial expressions — I mean, they captivate her.”
Bindi went on to add:
“It’s so lovely that without him knowing, he was creating the most wonderful TV programming for our daughter. She just stares at him in complete and utter fascination. She hangs on every word he says. Whether he’s talking about a croc or a spider, she thinks it’s amazing.”
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If Steve was here today, Bindi has no doubt “he would be in love” with his granddaughter.
“He’d just have her doing everything with him,” Bindi said. “We would only see her if she needed a feed and then be gone again.”
Look below to see the adorable photos PEOPLE shared of Bindi and Grace for their cover story. The pictures were taken by Bindi’s brother Robert, who is a photographer.
Grace is too cute for words! Steve would’ve adored her, we’re certain.