Bindi Irwin Read by Jacqueline Green
Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived in a zoo and took care of animals like lizards, snakes, and anteaters every day. A girl who would one day share her love of protecting animals with the WHOLE world! Her name is Bindi Irwin.
You can find Bindi in the new book Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers! We’re celebrating all September long with two special Changemakers podcast episodes each week. Preorder Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers wherever books are sold to learn about how girls just like you are changing the world.
This story was produced by Isaac Kaplan-Woolner with sound design and mixing by Bianca Salinas. It was written and edited by Abby Sher. Special thanks to our narrator, Jacqueline Green. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team, who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!
Transcript
| Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived in a zoo and took care of animals like lizards, snakes, and anteaters every day! A girl who would one day share her love of protecting animals with the WHOLE world!
Her name is Bindi… |
| Bindi grew up at the Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, Australia, with her family. The zoo is huge, with over 700 acres of rolling fields, tropical gardens, and wildlife habitats. Her parents, Steve and Terri, ran the zoo together when she was born, and they named her Bindi after one of their favorite crocodiles! Her parents ALSO founded a conservation foundation called Wildlife Warriors, and Bindi was soon made a member.
Bindi has always considered wild animals like the scaly shingleback skink lizards and the bouncy baby kangaroos as her brothers and sisters… (along with her human brother, Robert, of course.) |
| When Bindi was little, the Irwin family took an avocado packing shed and turned it into a wildlife hospital at the zoo. Right from the start, Bindi was fearless, helping her dad rescue animals.
One day, when her dad took Bindi for a drive, they found a furry, gray koala that had been hurt by the side of the road. Bindi’s dad wrapped the koala in his green jacket and Bindi cuddled it in her lap as they raced back to the hospital. During the koala’s surgery, Bindi stood on a stepstool and handed the surgeon tools, petting the koala as it slept, her tiny hands steady and calm. She knew this was the work she was meant to do. She felt strong, smart, and determined to help every animal live a full, happy life. Bindi also loved dressing up and singing and dancing. Her dad starred in a television show, so she followed in his footsteps. When she was just 8 years old, she starred in her own kids’ TV show, Bindi: The Jungle Girl. On her show, Bindi sang songs with her backup band, the Crocmen. And she had a blast telling the audience stories about her pet rat Candy, and teaching them how to care for wildlife. Soon after her show, Bindi wrote a book series about her wildlife adventures. She has even started her own line of clothing, won a trophy on “Dancing With the Stars,” and teamed up with her family to make a reality show about life at the zoo. |
| Even though Bindi travels the world visiting exotic lands and speaking in front of large crowds, her favorite place to be is still with her family at the zoo, caring for the animals.
She stays true to her Wildlife Warrior commitment — to protect and celebrate all of nature. Its wild places, wild animals, and wild possibilities. We can all learn from Bindi’s love of wild animals, and do our part to protect the planet and all its amazing creatures. |