This year marks two decades since the Australian conservationist died in 2006

Bindi Robert Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin with his children Bindi (left) and Robert Irwin (right).Credit : Bindi Irwin/Instagram; Robert Irwin/Instagram

 

Steve Irwin’s loved ones are remembering him on his birthday.

The Irwin family marked what would have been the late conservationist’s 64th birthday on Sunday, Feb. 22, with emotional posts shared on Instagram.

Bindi Irwin shared several throwback photos of herself as a child with her parents and her brother, Robert Irwin, and wrote in her caption, “Happy Birthday, Dad. We miss you so much.”

She added that her 4-year-old daughter, Grace, whom she shares with husband Chandler Powell, “is so proud to tell everyone that Grandpa Crocodile is her guardian angel.”

“Love you. Forever.❤️,” Bindi, 27, concluded, as her mom, Terri Irwin, responded in the comments section: “Your dad loved you so much, and was a proud girl dad!”

Robert, 22, also shared his own tribute post for his father. “Would have been your birthday today. Love you, miss you,” he wrote.

“Thank you for being a guiding light and inspiration every day. ❤️,” Robert added alongside a photo of himself sitting on Steve’s lap as a child.

Terri, 61, also shared a message in the comments section of Robert’s post, writing, “Your dad loved you so very much.”

Steve Irwin’s loved ones celebrate what would have been his 64th birthday

Robert and Steve Irwin.Robert Irwin/Instagram

Robert’s Dancing with the Stars dance partner Witney Carson, with whom he won the Mirrorball trophy on season 34 of the show, showed some support too.

“Love you so much! I know he’s so proud of you ❤️‍🩹,” Carson, 32, said.

Terri also shared a tribute to her late husband on Instagram. “Today would have been Steve’s 64th birthday,” she said.

“Remembering all the love, laughter, and wonderful adventures. May we all stand together to continue Steve’s important conservation work, and honor his legacy by protecting our precious wildlife,” Terri continued.

Steve died on Sept. 4, 2006. He was pierced in the chest by a short-tailed stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef.