Steve Irwin’s son Robert has been accused of using animals as entertainment after sharing a terrifying clip of a crocodile chasing him.
The video posted on Instagram shows the 18 year old fleeing after Casper the croc lunges at him.
The teenager had climbed into the animal’s enclosure to check whether he was happy and ready for shows at the Crocoseum at his family’s Australia Zoo.
He dangled food in front of him while the reptile snapped at it, but then when Casper got a bit close Robert told the team: “Bail! Bail!”
Speaking afterwards on the Today Show, he said: “You can’t have any sort of ego. You’ve got to know when to call it and when it’s too close. And that was too close.”
(Image: Channel Nine)
The video – a teaser for the Crikey! It’s The Irwins series – did not go down well with some fans.
One posted in the comments section: “Fun fact: If you continuously tease and annoy a crocodile, it WILL snap at you. You’re not friends to them, you’re food.”
“This is not animal conservation or education,” said another.
(Image: Channel Nine)
One wrote: “Zoos should never exist, wild animals shouldn’t be held captive for the amusement of humans.”
“Aren’t you just goading these animals into a certain entertainment driven reaction?” another asked. “Your conservation work is phenomenal but the croc show is just a shill.”
However, others praised Robert for his work with animals and conservation.
And many said he reminded them of his late dad, ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve, who died when he was pierced by a stingray’s barb while filming in 2006.
“Wonderful work,” one fan posted.
(Image: Getty Images)
Another said: “Love watching you follow your father’s footsteps! He would be so proud.”
“You all have done your father proud,” said another.
“While you’re your own person, you’re so much like him I just can’t get over it.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
