The nature conservationist died in 2006 after he was pierced in the chest by a short-tailed stingray barb in the Great Barrier Reef
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NEED TO KNOW
- Terri Irwin reflects on 34 years since marrying Steve Irwin and dedicating her life to wildlife conservation
- She shared heartfelt memories of their love story and how Steve’s legacy continues to inspire her work
- Terri has no plans to date, adding that Steve was her “happily ever after” and irreplaceable as a partner
Terri Irwin is reflecting on her 34 years of "adventure" ahead of her anniversary with late husband Steve Irwin.
On Tuesday, June 2, Terri shared a photo on her Instagram while wearing her Australia Zoo long-sleeve shirt. In her caption, the American-Australian conservationist reflected on her journey since moving to Australia and marrying her late husband Steve.
"34 years ago the adventure began…marrying Steve, moving to Australia, two beautiful children, and a life dedicated to wildlife conservation," she wrote in her caption. "My heart is full. I am truly blessed.💕."
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"We love you SO much," wrote Terri and Steve's daughter Bindi.
Steve, better known as 'The Crocodile Hunter,' died in 2006 after he was pierced in the chest by a short-tailed stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef.
Last June, Terri shared a photo of her 1992 nuptials to Steve on Instagram on what would have been their 33rd wedding anniversary. The photo showed the couple in their wedding finery as they posed together in front of a church altar.
"Today, 33 years ago, Steve and I were married in my grandmother’s church in Oregon," she wrote in the caption. "And it was the first day of my happily ever after."
She went on to reflect on how her years with Steve have not been forgotten and continue to inspire her work. "Every day I wake up with beautiful memories, so much love in my heart, and the promise of continuing his incredible legacy. I am truly blessed.❤️," she concluded.
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
In 2024, Terri — who met Steve, a zookeeper and fellow conservationist, while touring wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Australia in 1991 — shared that she had no plans to date anyone.
“I totally got my happily ever after,” she told Us Weekly ahead of the 2024 Steve Irwin Gala, referring to her love story with The Crocodile Hunter star.
“And while there are a lot of wonderful men in the world, can you see another Steve Irwin? I just can’t. I’d be like, ‘I love that you’re a librarian and the Dewey Decimal System is cool, but I got to go jump a crocodile and do that.’ Forget that,” Terri added.
In an interview with PEOPLE in 2019, Terri recalled first being introduced to the charismatic zookeeper who would capture her heart.
“Right away we were talking about wildlife, and our passions in life, and I kept thinking, ‘I wonder if this guy’s married,’ ” she said. “He said to me, ‘Would you like to meet my girlfriend, Sue?’ I tried to be cool about it, but I was devastated. Then he goes, ‘Hey Sue, Suey, come here.’ And his little dog came running around the corner. ‘This is my girlfriend, Sue,’ he said. I thought, ‘Yes!’ ”
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