Robert Irwin Stresses Out During Australia Zoo Show When a Bird and a Crocodile Get Too Close for Comfort

Robert Irwin has had his fair share of the spotlight lately, from his ‘Dancing With the Stars’ victory to his regular appearances at the Australia Zoo. On January 13, however, all eyes were on one of his animal residents, a saltwater crocodile named Murray, as Irwin’s ‘Crososeum’ show took a wild turn.

Not even the son of wildlife king Steve Irwin could hide his worry as a seemingly oblivious white ibis bird landed only feet away from the massive crocodile. Australian traveler @zara_will_travel caught the tense moment on camera, from the suspenseful animal standoff to the brave de-escalation by none other than Robert Irwin himself.

Talk about a close call! These beautiful birds are either very brave or completely oblivious for walking so close to Murray, but fortunately, they had a professional like Irwin looking out for them.

Now that everyone knows they’re safe, it’s safe to admit that the second bird to join had the best comedic timing ever. It was hard not to laugh despite being so worried for the poor birds! No one was more stressed than Irwin, however, who seemed truly at a loss for words.

Related: Researchers Confirm the First Crocodile ‘Virgin Birth’ Ever Recorded

Commenters like @quirkyjackiethoughts got a kick out of “Robert trying not to panic in front of the crowd.” There are dozens of hilarious memes in the comment section that couldn’t be more fitting for his barely-chill vibe.

And then there’s the “bird looking around like ‘what? what’s wrong?’” Commenter @naekiyomi couldn’t have been more on point! Everyone in this video had a very different reaction, but everyone will agree that this animal encounter was too close for comfort.

The Australia Zoo

The Irwin family may be most famous for their interactions with Australia’s native animals, like crocodiles, but there are over 1200 animals (and over 100 different species) at the Australia Zoo. From baby koalas to stunning cheetahs, this massive zoo has it all.

Steve Irwin wasn’t the first person in his family with a love for wild animals. As a child, he assisted his family at the Beerwah Reptile Park, where they cared for and rehabilitated a number of local species. He took over the family business shortly before he met Terri Raines, who would later become his wife.

With their children, Robert and Bindi, the Irwin family established an unbreakable legacy of animal conservation and education. Although the Australia Zoo is the center of their animal adventures (even the tense ones like seen in this video), their family’s name and impact can be recognized worldwide.

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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Jan 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.