By Joel Ontong
Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Conservationist Robert Irwin fought back tears when he saw the Madame Tussauds wax figure of his father, Steve Irwin, for the first time in Sydney.
Robert was also honoured with a wax figure on Thursday that was placed next to the one of his father, who was killed by a stingray in 2006 when Robert was two years old.
Irwin previously said how much his father means to him.
“There’s one person who inspired me, and that’s my dad. He led with real authenticity and a real love for what he did. I try to keep that same spirit and idea with everything I approach,” Irwin shared.
Talking about having an enthusiasm for environmental issues and conservation, Irwin said, “It is so important to lead with a sense of enthusiasm, a sense of passion.”
“We are the next generation to make a change, and we can definitely make that change,” he said.
Though Steve’s wax figure was unveiled in 2015, Robert was emotional seeing it for the first time on 28 November.
“That is amazing. It’s the first time in a long time that he’s not just a picture,” Robert said, holding back tears. He then composed himself, shook his head and moved away from the sculpture.
“This is one of the most surreal moments of my entire life. This is just incredible,” Robert told the TV programme Sunrise, about having a wax figure made of him.
“I just keep looking at every little bit going, ‘It’s me! It is me!’ I don’t know if the world is ready for two of me,” he added.
He then told the Australian television programme about the emotional moment he saw his father’s sculpture.
“It was the first time I’d ever gotten to see my dad’s wax figure. I’d seen pictures of it, but I’d never seen it in real life,” Robert said.
“I was overcome with emotion. And I didn’t think that was gonna happen, but I was actually quite emotional seeing it,” he continued.
“Dad, for the last 17 years of my life, has been pictures and video, and to actually see him kind of just standing there, it was a lot. It was actually a lot to take in.”
He added:
“It was very emotional, but you know what? My life’s about continuing his legacy, so the fact that I get to be there with him now means a lot. I’m truly so grateful.”
Robert followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a conservationist, zookeeper and television personality.
Source: News 24
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