Robert Irwin breaks down mid-interview over thousands of animals killed and maimed by wildfires in Australia

The teenager and his sister have been speaking about the steps taken by the Australia Zoo in bid to help the native species
UPDATED JAN 6, 2020
Robert Irwin (Getty Images)
Robert Irwin (Getty Images)

Robert Irwin and his family have dedicated their lives to animal conservation and protection. 

Robert Irwin, 16-year-old son of late Steve 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin was seen getting quite emotional on Monday as he spoke on the Australian bushfires which have devastated native wildlife. Robert and his family have dedicated their lives to animal conservation and protection, especially in Australia. While speaking to Sunrise, Robert was seen fighting back tears as he went into the gruesome details of injuries sustained by animals in the fires, according to a Daily Mail report. 

Robert Irwin was visibly very upset as he reminisced how animals died as they choked from inhaling smoke and how they suffered fatal burns. There were also many animals run over by speeding cars as they tried to escape the flames. "It's definitely an ongoing issue and we're just trying to do our best to help in any way we can," Robert revealed. 

"But it's a pretty tough situation. We're absolutely heartbroken," he added as his tears welled up in his eyes.

This comes after Roberts' sister Bindi shared an emotional message on the bushfires last week. She shared an image of her late grandmother Lyn and father Steve and wrote, "With so many devastating fires within Australia, my heart breaks for the people and wildlife who have lost so much."

"I wanted to let you know that we are safe. There are no fires near us @AustraliaZoo or our conservation properties," she went on to say. Bindi, currently engaged to wakeboarder Chandler Powell, also said that the wildlife hospital is 'busier than ever' given the bushfires. "Our Wildlife Hospital is busier than ever though, having officially treated over 90,000 patients," she added. 

"My parents dedicated our Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to my beautiful grandmother [Lyn]. We will continue to honor her by being wildlife warriors and saving as many lives as we can," she continued. 

We had previously reported that the Irwin family's action comes in the wake of a heartbreaking clip of dozens of kangaroos fleeing from bushes near the New South Wales village of Bredbo that has been doing the rounds on social media.

On New Year's Day, Air Quality Index reached a whopping 4,650 in the Australian Capital Territory. Air is considered to be hazardous if AQI goes above 200.

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