Less than five years after Steve Irwin's tragic death, the Crocodile Hunter’s dream appears to be in tatters, with the once booming Sunshine Coast tourism and conservation icon, Australia Zoo, reportedly crippled by debt. The crisis is believed to be weighing heavily on his wife Terri and children Bindi, and Robert, seven, who are committed to keeping her late husband's dream alive.
The zoo has confirmed to New Idea that it had let go of 22 staff, blaming the cull on a ‘downturn in tourism’. But 30 former and current staff members say the number of people who have been terminated is substantially more, and that the zoo’s management team is struggling without their one-man brand. "They have blown millions on poor planning and poor execution," said former curator Bruce Murdock.
"Steve had a lot of dreams but they were massive dreams that only he could fund. They are trying to do it on the back of Bindi and Terri but I don't think they can support it."
Former Australia Zoo receptionist Amy-Lee Hines tells New Idea. ‘If things don’t turn around, [Australia Zoo] will go down.’
The zoo has confirmed to New Idea that it had let go of 22 staff, blaming the cull on a ‘downturn in tourism’. But 30 former and current staff members say the number of people who have been terminated is substantially more, and that the zoo’s management team is struggling without their one-man brand. "They have blown millions on poor planning and poor execution," said former curator Bruce Murdock.
"Steve had a lot of dreams but they were massive dreams that only he could fund. They are trying to do it on the back of Bindi and Terri but I don't think they can support it."
Former Australia Zoo receptionist Amy-Lee Hines tells New Idea. ‘If things don’t turn around, [Australia Zoo] will go down.’
