Bindi the Jungle Girl

Animal Planet – Saturdays and Sundays from 3 October, 10.30am

Most people know Bindi Irwin as the dynamic nine year old daughter of the Croc Hunter Steve Irwin and his wife Terri, who was born with their passion for animal conservation and their enthusiasm for wildlife. From her inviting perch in a two story tree house high in the jungle, Bindi bubbles over with excitement as she introduces viewers to her wonderful world of wildlife. Terri Irwin and Australia Zoo director Wes Mannion, drop into the tree house to share their stories of animal adventures from across the globe. Bindi also takes time out to log in and answer questions from fans around the world in a regular segment ‘Bindi’s Blog’ and conducts animal themed song and dance routines from Bindi’s singing and dancing crew, The Crocmen. From leeches to pythons Bindi interacts with cute and not-so-cute animals, including a number of adorable creatures who call her tree house home. For the Irwin’s, conservation has always been a family affair and this family friendly series aims to carry on that mission, to educate the young and the old on the wonders of the natural world.

CANBERRA: The eight-year-old daughter of Australia’s Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin kicks off her US showbiz career this week with a series of high-profile television appearances and speeches across the United States.

Bindi Irwin, who will star in the 26-part Bindi, the Jungle Girl series on Discovery Kids network this year, will address the National Press Club in Washington, as well as appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Show with David Letterman.

“She’ll be welcomed with open arms and rightly so. She’s a very special child,” Discovery senior vice-president Annie Howell told Australian media on Monday.

Steve Irwin, 44, died on September 4 after a stingray’s serrated barb pierced his heart while he was filming scenes for a documentary off Australia’s northeast coast.

Bindi’s US tour coincides with the airing of the Ocean’s Deadliest documentary her exuberant, khaki-clad Australian naturalist father was working on when he died.

While with her US-born mother Terri Irwin, Bindi and her Crocmen backing dancers will team up with The Wiggles for concerts in Los Angeles and New York. Bindi has been performing her show already to thousands at Australian Zoo’s Crocoseum.

“That’s what her dad did for the last three years, he went over every year and did that and he did a big show,” manager John Stainton said.

As part of an Australian government promotion, she will also join Australian actors Russell Crowe and Naomi Watts, as well as Australian-born media baron Rupert Murdoch, for a gala dinner.

Discovery’s Howell said Bindi’s television series would premiere in the US in the next several months.

–Reuters