Terri and Robert Irwin have opened up about their heartbreak following the horrific loss of wildlife caused by the Australian bushfires, and revealed that they have been taking in and treating hundreds of displaced animals at their wildlife hospital during the crisis.
WATCH: Bindi Irwin reveals she will walk down the aisle with a koala
The Australian bushfires which have been raging across the country are believed to have killed close to a billion animals so far, and the Irwin family have been doing all they can to help any surviving animals.
Speaking to People, Terri and Robert confessed they’ve been moved by what they’ve seen.
“I think for me, it’s watching the people on the front line,” Terri told the publication.
Adding that she was appreciative of all that the firefighters were doing.
“We have firefighters here from all over the world — from the United States, from Canada — and as the animals come out of the forests seeking help, they just walk right up to the firefighters, and the firefighters are giving them water and they’re ending up with animals climbing up on them trying to seek refuge,” she said.
Terri confessed that the family have been heartbroken by the devastation they’ve witnessed.
“It’s just heartbreaking watching these heroic firefighters also trying to save wildlife,” Terri said.
“It’s unbelievable… when these animals are terribly injured, they’re hit by cars, they’re burned, they’re trying to seek solace wherever they can — it really is heartbreaking to watch.”
Robert, 16, echoed his mother’s sentiments in his interview with People, and spoke of seeing “the devastation from all across the country.”
“It’s really quite overwhelming but when you get the individual animals in — like the koalas, like these little flying foxes — and you put a face to it, it really puts it into perspective, and it really makes it even more devastating because you realise that half a billion animals — that’s half a billion little lives just like these guys — [are in danger]. It’s just such a heartbreaking situation.”
“The bushfires that we’re seeing at the moment are unlike anything in Australia’s history and they’re some of the biggest in the world,” Robert said.
“For us, with the devastation we’ve seen with wildlife and with habitat, we’re really just doing our best here… to take in as many species as possible.”
Bindi Irwin took to Instagram on Wednesday to speak out about the Australian bushfire crisis, alongside a photo of her late father, Steve Irwin.
“Dad spent his life working so hard to protect wildlife and wild places, especially in Australia.
“I wish he was here right now to give advice and strength during this time of devastation with the bushfires.
“I know that his spirit lives on through our conservation work and I hope together we can make him proud. 💙🙏🏼” she wrote.
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