'The plane is going down': How Terri Irwin feared she'd have to break her final promise to Steve as Australia's most famous zoo teetered on the brink - and Bindi revealed they only had six weeks of food left for the animals
- Terri Irwin revealed Australia Zoo was on the brink of collapse amid lockdown
- Zoo had just six weeks' worth of food for 1,200 animals when it temporarily shut
- Irwin was forced to cut jobs and operate on the bare minimum of employees
- The zoo reopened to the public with social distancing measures on June 12
- The mother of Bindi and Bob said she 'can't even come close' to paying the bills
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Terri Irwin has revealed Australia Zoo was on the brink of collapse after the coronavirus pandemic left the Queensland tourist attraction unable to pay its bills.
Irwin said the iconic zoo had no income and just six weeks' worth of food for their 1,200 animals when it was forced to close temporarily during lockdowns.
In a special episode of 'Crikey! It's the Irwins', the wife of late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin revealed the Sunshine Coast zoo spends a whopping $400,000 per week on wages, plus $78,914 on food for the animals.
But during strict lockdowns Irwin was forced to cut jobs and operate with a skeleton crew of employees to make ends meet.
Australia Zoo reopened to the public with social distancing measures in place on June 12, but has only been able to stay afloat thanks to government assistance.
Terri, the wife of late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin revealed the Sunshine Coast zoo spends a whopping $400,000 per week on wages and food for the animals
Irwin said the zoo's hardship is particularly emotional due to a promise she made to Steve, who converted his family's Beerwah wildlife park to Australia Zoo in the 1990s
Terri Irwin has revealed Australia Zoo was on the brink of collapse when the coronavirus pandemic left the Queensland tourist attraction unable to pay its bills. Pictured with daughter Bindi and her husband Chandler
'I'm the pilot of a big plane and the plane is going down, and I'm handing out all the parachutes I've got. Sometimes at the end of the day I've just got my head in my hands wondering what we're going to do tomorrow,' she said during the episode, set to air on Animal Planet in August.
The mother of Bindi, 21, and Bob, 16, said she 'can't even come close' to paying the bills.
Irwin said the zoo's hardship was particularly emotional due to a promise she made to Steve, who converted his family's Beerwah wildlife park to Australia Zoo in the 1990s.
'This was Steve's passion. Steve would say to me, "if anything happens to me, make sure the zoo continues". So it's really important that we keep this going,' she said.
Bindi, who married longtime boyfriend Chandler Powell in March, called off her honeymoon to help her mother out with the rapidly-declining zoo.
Robert also took on extra responsibilities to keep the zoo from going under.
During strict lockdowns, Irwin was forced to cut jobs and operate on the bare minimum of employees to make ends meet. Pictured: Bindi and husband Chandler, Terri and Bob Irwin
Bindi had previously hinted at financial problems at the re-opening of the zoo on June 12
'We have enough food to continue on for about six weeks, but after that we are going to seriously be running out of funds. I keep thinking, "Gosh I wish dad was here to help us out with everything",' Bindi said during the episode.
Irwin said she was forced to adjust quickly to cut costs and prevent a potential spread of coronavirus.
The 55-year-old moved grouped all the koalas together to make cleaning more efficient, and created two separate teams at the Wildlife Hospital in case anyone was carrying COVID-19.
Irwin revealed she had also 'very politely' asked the Morrison Government for assistance in a desperate last-ditch bid to save the zoo, and in April a $94million support package for zoos and aquariums was unveiled.
'That's going to save us,' she said.
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin demonstrates his crocodile skills at the Australia Zoo in 2002
Bindi Irwin pays tribute to her family's unconditional love as she celebrates her 18th birthday at Australia Zoo
Bindi had previously hinted at financial problems at the re-opening of the zoo on June 12.
'For 78 days we have wondered if and when we would ever open our doors to guests again. The weight of the world seemed to press down on us as we worked hard to figure out how we'd be able to pay our bills,' she said at the time.
The newlywed admitted she cried at the momentous occasion, but they were tears of 'joy'.
'I cried as I felt the overwhelming joy of reopening and the stress these many weeks have brought,' she said.
Bindi finished by thanking the public for their support and reaffirming her family were doing everything they could to keep their visitors safe during the global pandemic.
'Crikey! It's the Irwins: Life in Lockdown' will document the family's time in lockdown at the Sunshine Coast tourist attraction, and premieres on August 1 on Animal Planet.
Bindi, who married longtime boyfriend Chandler Powell in March, called off her honeymoon to help her mother out with the rapidly-declining zoo
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