'Sale of zoo' blamed for rift between Irwins

PLANS to sell Australia Zoo to a US company and build a multimillion-dollar theme park on the site may have been the wedge that has driven apart Bob and Terri Irwin.

A staff member has told The Sunday Mail that American-born Mrs Irwin plans to sell the tourist attraction to US television channel Animal Planet and move back to the US with children Bindi and Robert.

The speculation surrounding the sale and move was believed to be behind the recent rift, which saw her father-in-law, Bob Irwin, leave the zoo he started 32 years ago.

The zoo employee said the rumoured sale and $100 million Disney-style wildlife theme park was common knowledge among the zoo's 550 staff.

But an Australia Zoo spokeswoman said the leaked information was incorrect. She said Australia Zoo had not been sold to Animal Planet and Mrs Irwin had no plans to leave Australia.

The spokeswoman refused to comment on future plans that might involve Animal Planet.

Animal Planet is owned by US-based global media and entertainment company Discovery Communications Inc (DCI).

Neither Animal Planet nor DCI could be reached for comment.

DCI started as the Discovery Channel in 1985 and now has 1.5 billion subscribers and 100 channels in more than 170 countries.

Animal Planet has a vested interest in the zoo. It was believed DCI has already invested heavily in the tourist attraction and helped build the 5000-seat bird and reptile stadium that bears its name -- the Animal Planet Crocoseum.

In October 2003, Steve Irwin discussed plans to build a "Crocodile Hunter Park" with rides and interactive exhibits in Brisbane.

Mr Irwin, who died after a stingray attack in 2006, discussed plans with Brisbane's then-lord mayor Tim Quinn and looked at several sites, but it was later decided the zoo would remain at its current location.

Six months ago the zoo announced plans to expand from 28ha to 400ha.

Mrs Irwin recently won the 2008 Queensland Businesswoman of the Year award for attracting more than a million visitors a year, expanding Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, overseeing Bindi's TV and fashion career and overseeing plans for a "$100 million expansion to a wildlife version of Disneyland".

In a statement released to The Sunday Mail, Bob Irwin said he quit in order to "keep his son's dream alive".

Mrs Irwin and Australia Zoo are being sued by debt collection agency Alyssa Treasury Services Ltd.

The Australian Taxation Office is also involved in the case, which will go to trial in Victoria in October.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23380296-421,00.html

I feel really sorry for the Irwins at the moment. They seem to be taking a real bashing by the media, it's one thing after the other. First the rumours about Bob leaving, then the lawsuit, the rumors about mistreatment of koalas, and now this. Why don't the media spend their time focusing on all the wonderful the zoo and Irwins have done for conservation and wildlife? Or at least give them a break.

I agree with you Snickals, the media just don't stop last year it was Bindi not being allowed to grow up as a normal kid. This is one of the reasons why I stopped buying papers as nine times out of ten there is no truth in the matter. I am sure Terri would not go back on her promise to Steve.

I would be very suprised if a company called 'Animal Planet' would put animals second to money. It just doesn't ring true to me. During our visit in Jan we were shown land that the zoo had recently purchased and they did tell us what the plans were for the land.....I can't remember what it was but it definitely wasn't theme park rides.

Couldn't agree more, everytime Terri or Wes is interviewed personally they always talk about how Steve had planned out what he wanted for the zoo for the next 10 years and that that was what they are always workng for and towards. I highly doubt they would ever turn their backs on that.
The land that is being constructed down past the Tiger Temple (is that what you're talking about?) is going to be an island and have monkeys on it and have aligators swimming freely around it They also said they plan to continue with their Asian animals area.
Was listening about this on the radio this morning and a representative (didn't hear it all) said there were no truth to the rumours though. I think the media should not be allowed to make up these kind of lies and get away with it, it's just pointless what they are doing.

the land we were shown wasn't on view to the public, we only got to see it because we were escorted round some back roads to the wildlife warriors hospital to view a bench we helped fund. There were a couple of houses on the border of the land I think. I'll try find it on google earth. Do you use that?

To the right of the car park is a piece of land with trees and a couple of houses and then there's an area of land to the right that's cleared, I think that's the area we were shown.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: shackybracky,

I know where you are talking about! Haven't been there but one of the staff members told us about it last year

Terri and Bindi Irwin are going to be on the Australia morning show 'Sunrise' tomorrow to set the record straight on all the rumours!!!
I am sure the show will put the clip on their website afterwards. I hope so cause I work when it's on!

Terri and Bindi were also on A Current Affair tonight, it was good timing because I wasn't watching that channel but just happend to flick to it when the story started
The story can be watched at http://www.aca.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=393326

Terri denies plans to change Australia Zoo focus

The wife of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin has denied rumours she plans to sell Queensland's Australia Zoo and relocate to her homeland, the US.

http://www.smh.com.au:80/news/people/terri-irwin-denies...8/1205602379447.html

CRIKEY CROCS RULE!!

Thanks for that ILS!

They are busy bees at the moment Apparently they were also on "Today Tonight" another Aussie show. My friend told me about it but where I am we are a day behind seeing it, so will watch out for it too

Irwin proposes 'Disney feel' for zoo

TERRI Irwin has announced plans to turn Australia Zoo into an international tourist mecca comparable to Disneyland.

At a VIP breakfast at the zoo, the widow of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin said the zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast would be Irwin-owned well into the future as it expanded with a safari park and accommodation.

http://www.news.com.au:80/story/0,23599,23407746-29277,00.html

CRIKEY CROCS RULE!!

The 'Today Tonight' interview video:
);&ch=&src=y7news" TARGET=_blank>http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=248153...9);&ch=&src=y7news

The 'Sunrise' interview video:
http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/index.html?...6#embedded-video-top

Thanks for that Snickals, couldn't watch the first one but the second link was great, good to hear from Terri...