BRISBANE—The late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin went through "a lot of pain and suffering" behind the scenes of his public life, his father says.
Bob Irwin, 68, last month ended his role with Australia Zoo, which he founded 36 years ago, and which son Steve made into an international drawcard before his death in 2006.
Bob Irwin and his wife Judy plan to continue their conservation work on a property near Kingaroy, north of Brisbane.
There was speculation he was upset with the career of Steve Irwin's nine-year-old daughter Bindi, and also the direction of the Sunshine Coast-based zoo.
Steve's widow Terri plans to turn it into an international tourist mecca comparable to Disneyland.
In an interview to be aired on ABC TV's Australian Story program tonight, Bob Irwin said his son was extremely talented in front of the cameras, but there was more to the Crocodile Hunter than the outgoing personality he portrayed.
"People don't realise just how much he gave of himself," Mr Irwin said of Steve.
"He was always very good in front of the media, and a lot of the pain and suffering didn't show through."
Mr Irwin admitted he was frightened by the media, but said as long as he continued his conservation work, Steve would be happy with him.
"I would much rather catch crocodiles than sit here talking to the camera," he said.
"I just feel that if I can live the rest of my life out doing what Steve would actually want me to do, and do that successfully, then I would be prepared to go and shake hands with him again."
He also said Steve would not be bothered by his split with Australia Zoo.
"I honestly don't believe Steve minds where I am," Mr Irwin said.
"I think he'd be more than content as long as he knows that I'm continuing with the work that he'd want me to continue with.
"I don't think he'd care really where I did it, as long as it gets done."
Mr Irwin told the program he had become a disruptive influence at Australia Zoo, but the decision to leave was a difficult one.
"I've obviously put a lot of thought into the decision I made because it affected a lot of people, it's not just me," he said.
"It's the people at the zoo, it's my own personal friends, the wildcare people that I deal with, and it goes on and on.
"But I believe that even though it's better for me and for Judy to start our new move on the property, it's also better for Australia Zoo not to have a disruptive influence."
Feeds