Australia Zoo ‘isn’t out of the woods yet’ as closed borders mean NO international visitors

While 2020 should have been a milestone year for Australia Zoo, the Irwins instead faced financial strain and uncertainty on the tourist attraction’s 50th birthday.

Bindi Irwin admitted recently her late father Steve’s legacy was almost on the brink of collapse as they struggled to keep the business operational amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now, a source close to the famous family has told Woman’s Day magazine ‘they still aren’t out of the woods yet’.

Setbacks: Australia Zoo ‘isn’t out of the woods yet’, a source claims, as closed borders mean no international visitors for the foreseeable future. Pictured (L-R): Robert, Terri and Bindi Irwin

Australia Zoo was forced to shut for 78 days last year due to the pandemic, but the Irwins still had to pay $80,000 a week to feed the animals – placing them in a dire financial predicament.

And with coronavirus still restricting international travel, the Irwins have lost crucial overseas visitors heading into 2021.

‘The zoo relies on international visitors, and with the borders closed, indeed some state borders closed, and even Aussies struggling to get home, that’s a sizable chunk of their income gone,’ the source said.

Struggles: Bindi Irwin admitted recently her late father Steve’s legacy was almost on the brink of collapse as they struggled to keep the business operational amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, a source close to the family has told Woman’s Day ‘they still aren’t out of the woods yet’ 

Nightmare year: In an emotional statement shared by Bindi, 22, in December, the pregnant wildlife warrior detailed the struggles her family had faced in 2020

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In an emotional statement shared by Bindi, 22, in December, the pregnant wildlife warrior detailed the struggles her family had faced in 2020. 

‘For us, this year was filled with both tremendous joy and heartbreaking loss,’ Bindi wrote on Instagram, marking 50 years since the zoo opened in 1970.

She said the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital was the ‘busiest it’s ever been’ due to the bushfires, adding that it was costing them $80,000 a week alone to feed the animals.

She revealed that 2020 was the first time in history the family had to close their gates to guests, saying: ‘Every moment of every day the question of when or if we would recover burned in the back of our minds. 

‘Our animal food bills alone are about $80,000 per week and we spent our days trying to keep our team and family of animals safe.’ 

Nightmare: She revealed that 2020 was the first time in history the family had to close their gates to guests. Pictured: the late Steve Irwin at Australia Zoo in February 2002

Terri Irwin had previously said during an episode of Crikey! It’s the Irwins that the Sunshine Coast zoo spends a whopping $400,000 per week on wages.

Despite the tough year behind them, Bindi concluded her post on a positive note.

‘However, we were reminded that there is always hope on the horizon,’ she wrote.

‘Things turned around in Australia and we were able to open our doors once again to people needing a safe haven of gardens and wildlife.’ 

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Staggering: Terri Irwin had previously said during an episode of Crikey! It’s the Irwins that the Sunshine Coast zoo spends a whopping $400,000 per week on wages

She also spoke about her marriage to Chandler Powell in March, adding that the pair were now ‘patiently waiting’ for their daughter to arrive.

‘I hope this next year brings some peace and we find a way to come together as a society,’ she signed off. 

‘Please remember to be kind to one another and find happiness in even the smallest of things. Thank you for your amazing support and I’ll see you in 2021.’

Addition to the family: Bindi and her husband, Chandler Powell, are set to welcome their first child, a baby girl, in the coming months