Terry Irwin (nee Teresa Penelope Raines) is a naturalist, zoologist, animal protector, and owner of the famous Australian zoo in Beerwa. Wife of famed TV presenter and wildlife expert Steve Irwin, author of My Steve.
In the late 1980s, Terry joined an Australian Animal Rehabilitation Center. And since then, her life is inextricably linked with the wild.
Biography facts
Teresa Penelope was born in the American state of Oregon in the summer of 1964. She was the youngest of three daughters. The family owned a trucking business and also supported the environmental movement.
Remembering her childhood, Terry said that together with her friends she spent a lot of time in nature, rode a bicycle, climbed mountains. She often visited the local attraction, the Spencer Butte rocks, in the hopes of seeing the snakes. This area in the language of the indigenous people was called Champ-a te, which means "rattlesnake".
Father often went on business trips in his truck and picked up injured animals along the way, which he brought home. Terri, along with her sisters, nursed them, and then released them back into the forest.
Gradually, the idea of creating a rehabilitation center arose, which was realized in 1986. The center annually hosted more than 300 species of animals, including foxes, bears, lynxes, cougars, raccoons. Once, a cougar cub came to their center, which later took part in the filming of the movie "Chasing Benji".
Professional career
Terry often helped the local zoo, volunteered, and organized free park visits and excursions for children and teenagers. After school, she received a professional education in the field of zoology and continued to do what she loved.
In 1989, Irwin started working in a veterinary clinic as an assistant in order to gain more experience and knowledge in the care and rehabilitation of all types of animals. At the same time, she helped her father in his business and took care of her own pets, because the family had 15 cats, as well as dogs and birds.
In 1991, Terry took a trip to Australia to get acquainted with the work of recovery centers. While visiting the Australian Zoo, she met her future husband Steve Irwin, whose father was the founder of Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park. In the future, together they continued to study and help animals.
In 2006, Terry became an honorary member of the Australian Wildlife Service. She also received her PhD from the State Research University of the University of Queensland.
In 2009, Terry received Australian citizenship.
Personal life
In 1992, Terry became the wife of Steve Irwin, a famous wildlife researcher, TV presenter, creator of several documentaries. Later, together with her husband, she starred in several episodes of the film "Crocodile Hunter".
In 1998, the couple had a daughter, Bindi. In 2003, the son of Robert Clarence was born.
In 2006, a tragedy struck the family. Steve was collecting material for his new film about underwater inhabitants when one of the rays attacked him and pierced his chest with a poisonous sting, hitting him right in the heart. The man died instantly.
