Robert Irwin chokes back tears as he praises his ‘wonder woman’ mother Terri for her ‘bravery’

Robert Irwin swallowed tears as he talked about his ‘wonder woman’ mother Terri in a rare solo interview on ABCs one plus one on Thursday.

The 18-year-old conservationist seemed visibly moved as he discussed Terri’s strength as a single mother and her choice not to sell Australia Zoo after the shock of the death of his father, Steve.

“She could have sold the zoo and just raised us. And we could have just squirreled away and have a little hidden life,’ said Robert.

Robert admitted that wouldn’t have been “wrong,” but Terri chose instead to continue Steve’s valuable work.

“She could see this legacy and knew it could continue to grow and get bigger and better every year and she did just that,” he added.

“She raised us. She kept the zoo through hard times. I get emotional just thinking about it. She is an absolute wonder woman.’

Robert called her the ‘force of nature’ behind Australia Zoo, just as his father was before his death.

“She could have sold the zoo and just raised us. And we could have just scurryed away and lived a little hidden life,’ said Robert. “She raised us. She kept the zoo through hard times. I get emotional just thinking about it. She is an absolute wonder woman.’

“Everyone saw Dad as this larger-than-life character. What he really was. 120 percent a day. But Mom is the one who kept it going, it’s pretty special.’

Elsewhere, Robert reflected on his admiration for Terri, saying that he never fully understood the roles she had to play after his father’s death.

“I don’t think I really fully understood, didn’t quite understand what a powerful person and brave person she is and was, until I really started to enter some kind of adulthood,” he said.

“Everyone saw Dad as this larger-than-life character. What he really was. 120 percent a day. But mom is the one who kept it going, it’s pretty special,” he added

“I don’t think I really fully understood, didn’t quite understand what a powerful human being and brave human being she is, and she was until I really started to enter some kind of adulthood,” he said. Pictured: Robert and Terri with Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth. Here: October 2019

“It’s only now and then that I realize what she’s been through,” said Robert.

“I mean raising kids, for Mom to do that, without Dad, to lose this sounding board and the person you’re counting on. I mean, the rug just got out from under you.’

Steve Irwin, known to the world as the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, died on September 4, 2006 at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray.

He leaves behind his wife Terri, daughter Bindi and son Robert.

Irwin leaves behind wife Terri, daughter Bindi and son Robert (all pictured). Here: April 2004