Watch the heart-stopping moment Steve Irwin’s son Robert is almost EATEN by a 13-foot crocodile when the beast lunges at him – 15 years after his father was killed while filming
Heart-stopping footage has captured the moment Robert Irwin was forced to flee for his life when a huge crocodile lunged at him at Australia Zoo.
The son of Steve ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ Irwin told his fellow zookeepers to ‘bail’ when the rare ‘leucistic’ saltie named Casper charged at the teenager.
Robert, 18, was testing whether Casper was comfortable enough with his new enclosure to be featured in shows at the famous zoo in Queensland.
Close call: Robert Irwin, 18, was almost EATEN by a crocodile at Australia Zoo recently after it ignored its lunch and lunged at him
WHO IS CASPER?
- Casper is one of two leucistic Saltwater Crocodiles at Australia Zoo
- Being leucistic basically means the animals have a dramatic reduction in dark skin pigment
- Australia Zoo describe Casper as ‘one of the most aggressive crocodiles we have ever seen’
- He has been paired up with the zoo’s other leucistic croc, a female named Wendy
- Casper measures in at 3.7 metres long and weighs a whopping 350 kilograms
- According to Australia Zoo his condition means he likely would have been picked on in the wild
However the 3.7 metre, 350kg beast ignored the food offered by Robert and made a beeline for the teen with snapping jaws.
Robert was forced to run, shouting ‘bail, bail, bail!’ as he fled the approaching reptile.
A bird’s-eye view of the drama showed him narrowly escaping the croc’s jaws.
The clip is from the season finale of U.S. TV show Crikey! It’s the Irwins, and was posted by Robert on social media this week.
Casper is a leucistic saltwater crocodile, which means he suffers from a dramatic reduction in dark skin pigment and appears lighter in colour to other crocs.
According to Australia Zoo, his condition means ‘he would’ve been predated on at a young age in the wild.’
They also describe Casper as ‘one of the most aggressive crocodiles we have ever seen’.
However, at the zoo he has been paired up with a female saltwater crocodile with the same condition named Wendy.
In 2006, Robert’s father Steve Irwin died while filming a documentary in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
He was 44 years old.
Snappy: In the heart stopping video, the teenager was lunged at by a saltwater crocodile named Casper
Dash: Robert had been trying to ascertain whether Casper was comfortable enough with his new enclosure to be featured in shows at Australia Zoo. However Casper ignored the food offered by Robert and went straight for the teenager himself with snapping jaws
He died after being pierced in the chest by a short-tail stingray.
On Saturday, Robert had a far less traumatic time as he took a walk with his niece Grace Warrior and brother-in-law Chandler Powell.
In an image shared to Instagram by his sister, Bindi Irwin, the trio took a relaxing stroll.
Rare beast: Casper (pictured) is a leucistic Saltwater Crocodile, which means he suffers from a dramatic reduction in dark skin pigment and appears lighter in colour to other crocs
Making a run for it: Irwin was forced to run, shouting ‘bail, bail bail!’ as he fled the approaching reptile.
Predator: Casper is pictured here
Chill weekend: On Saturday, Robert had a far less traumatic time as he took a walk with his niece Grace Warrior and brother-in-law Chandler Powell
‘Every evening we enjoy a family walk through the @australiazoo gardens. It’s my favourite time of the day, unwinding together,’ Bindi, 23, captioned the image.
‘Thought I’d share this sweet little moment when Grace’s ‘Funcle’ joined us. Happy days,’ the new mum, who who gave birth to Grace Warrior last March, added.
In the image, Chandler is pictured pushing Grace’s pram while Robert holds his dog and poses nearby.
Patriarch: In 2006, Robert’s father Steve Irwin (pictured in 2003) died while filming a documentary in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
Family affair: Bindi (right) gave birth to Grace Warrior last March
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