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Inside Bob Irwin's sad and reclusive life after being cut off from the rest of his family - as granddaughter Bindi makes sensational claims about their strained relationship

The full extent of Bob Irwin's sad and reclusive life has been revealed after his granddaughter Bindi Irwin's recent explosive allegations about their relationship.

According to a friend of the 82-year-old conservationist, Bob hasn't had any contact with his extended family since 2008, when he severed ties with Australia Zoo.

The father of Steve 'The Crocodile Hunter' Irwin quit his role at the wildlife park he'd founded in 1970 because he was concerned it was becoming a 'circus'.

Lonely: The full extent of Bob Irwin's sad and reclusive life has been revealed after his granddaughter Bindi Irwin's recent explosive allegations about their relationship. Pictured on Australian Story in April 2008

Lonely life: The full extent of Bob Irwin's sad and reclusive life has been revealed after his granddaughter Bindi Irwin's recent explosive claims about their relationship. Pictured in 2008

Various reports from the time of Bob's exit claim he was worried the Sunshine Coast tourist attraction was becoming 'too commercial' - and even feared a then nine-year-old Bindi was being pushed into child stardom. 

Despite this, Bindi claims Bob has wanted nothing to do with her since she was a child.

The wildlife warrior, 22, addressed her strained relationship with her grandfather in a scathing Facebook comment on Sunday. 

Losing touch: According to a friend of the 82-year-old conservationist, Bob hasn't had any contact with his extended family since around 2008. Pictured with (L-R) Bindi, Robert and Terri Irwin at the unveiling of the Irwin family statue at Australia Zoo in November 2007

Losing touch: According to a friend of the 82-year-old conservationist, Bob hasn't had any contact with his extended family since around 2008. Pictured with (L-R) Bindi, Robert and Terri Irwin at the unveiling of the Irwin family statue at Australia Zoo in November 2007

Sharing a sweet post to celebrate Father's Day in the USA, Bindi said she was thankful for the 'three most incredible fathers in her life': her late father Steve, her husband Chandler Powell, and her father-in-law Chris. 

When a fan asked why she hadn't included her grandfather, Bindi gave an uncharacteristically raw account of their relationship, claiming he'd ignored her since she was a 'little girl'.

'I really wish that my entire family could spend time with my Grace. Unfortunately, my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family,' she began.

Stepping down: The father of Steve Irwin (right) quit his role at Australia Zoo because he was concerned the wildlife park he'd founded in 1970 was becoming a commercialised 'circus'

Stepping down: The father of Steve Irwin quit his role at Australia Zoo because he was concerned the wildlife park he'd founded in 1970 was becoming a commercialised 'circus'

She went on to claim that Bob had 'returned gifts I've sent after he opened them', and ignored any letters sent from her. 

'From the time I was a little girl he has ignored me, preferring to spend time doing anything else rather than being with me,' she continued.

'He has never said a single kind word to me personally. It breaks my heart.' 

Walking away: Various reports from the time of Bob's exit claim he was worried the Sunshine Coast tourist attraction was becoming 'too commercial'. Pictured at a press conference outside Australia Zoo in September 2006, days after his son's death

Walking away: Various reports from the time of Bob's exit claim he was worried the Sunshine Coast tourist attraction was becoming 'too commercial'. Pictured at a press conference outside Australia Zoo in September 2006, days after his son's death

It's not the first time Bindi has spoken out against her estranged grandfather, having claimed in 2016 that he'd cut ties with her family. 

'Everyone deals with grief differently. When my dad passed away he chose to distance himself from everything that Dad loved most,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'At the moment, we're really just respecting his wishes because he hasn't had anything to do with us for a long time and he decided his own path. That's important, so good for him.'

Estranged: Bindi claims Bob has wanted nothing to do with her since she was a child. Pictured with husband Chandler Powell and daughter Grace

Estranged: Bindi claims Bob has wanted nothing to do with her since she was a child. Pictured with husband Chandler Powell and daughter Grace

Explosive: Bindi, 22, addressed her strained relationship with her grandfather in a scathing Facebook comment on Sunday

Explosive: Bindi, 22, addressed her strained relationship with her grandfather in a scathing Facebook comment on Sunday

Despite once being the patriarch of the Irwin family, Bob was later forced to contact Bindi through the media in 2019 after failing to receive a response when he congratulated her on her engagement to American wakeboarder Chandler Powell. 

Bindi married Chandler, 24, in March last year, and they welcomed daughter Grace on their first wedding anniversary. Bob Snr hasn't met his great-granddaughter.

By his own admission, Bob felt he'd become an unwelcome presence at Australia Zoo as the business grew into a major attraction aimed at American tourists. 

'From the time I was a little girl he has ignored me, preferring to spend time doing anything else rather than being with me,' Bindi (pictured with daughter Grace) said of her grandfather

'From the time I was a little girl he has ignored me, preferring to spend time doing anything else rather than being with me,' Bindi (pictured with daughter Grace) said of her grandfather

'It's a strange feeling to spend half your lifetime building something up and walking away from it,' he told ABC's Australian Story in April 2008.

'I was becoming a disrupting influence, not that I meant to be.'

It comes after Daily Mail Australia unearthed the financial settlement offered to Bob when he quit Australia Zoo 13 years ago.

Missing member: It's not the first time Bindi has spoken out against her estranged grandfather, having claimed in 2016 that he'd cut ties with her family. Pictured with mother Terri, brother Robert Jnr and daughter Grace

Missing member: It's not the first time Bindi has spoken out against her estranged grandfather, having claimed in 2016 that he'd cut ties with her family. Pictured with mother Terri, brother Robert Jnr and daughter Grace

In January 2008, he received a $1million package when he departed the zoo - which he had founded as Beerwah Reptile Park in 1970 - plus a $100,000-per-year pension.

Meanwhile, with Steve's grave situated in Australia Zoo, it emerged on Tuesday that Bob has been unable to visit his late son's resting place. 

In 2017, he admitted he still speaks to his late son from beyond the grave, especially 'if he's having a hard day and things aren't going all that well'.

A family of her own: Bindi married former American wakeboarder Chandler in March last year, and they welcomed daughter Grace on their first wedding anniversary

A family of her own: Bindi married former American wakeboarder Chandler in March last year, and they welcomed daughter Grace on their first wedding anniversary

'I'll go into a meditative state and I may talk to Steve. He gives a little bit of advice here and there. I'd rather keep those things to myself,' he explained. 

In an interview with Hit FM's Stav, Abby & Matt on Tuesday, Bob's friend Amanda French admitted it's been 'hard' for the grieving father. 

'Steve's burial place is inside the zoo... That's hard for him, not to be able to return to his son's resting place. He hasn't been back to Australia Zoo since 2008,' she said. 

Pushed out: By his own admission, Bob felt he'd become an unwelcome presence at Australia Zoo as the business grew into a major attraction aimed at American tourists. Pictured at the launch of the Bob Irwin Wildlife and Conservation Foundation in April 2012

Pushed out: By his own admission, Bob felt he'd become an unwelcome presence at Australia Zoo as the business grew into a major attraction aimed at American tourists. Pictured at the launch of the Bob Irwin Wildlife and Conservation Foundation in April 2012

She added that Bob always says positive things about Bindi and grandson Robert, 17, adding: 'He says they're always welcome if they ever turned up. But I think it would be hard for Bob to ring up Australia Zoo and be like - can we fix this?' 

In a separate interview with Channel Seven's The Latest on Monday, Ms French said Bob has been left 'deeply upset' by Bindi's recent comments.

'Naturally Bob's quite upset about it, and to be perfectly honest we haven't told him the full extent of the comments because we're quite concerned about how he might take that,' she added.

Departure: 'It's a strange feeling to spend half your lifetime building something up and walking away from it,' he told ABC's Australian Story in April 2008. Pictured at the launch of his book, The Last Crocodile Hunter, in Sydney in October 2016

Departure: 'It's a strange feeling to spend half your lifetime building something up and walking away from it,' he told ABC's Australian Story in April 2008. Pictured at the launch of his book, The Last Crocodile Hunter, in Sydney in October 2016

Two years after Steve's tragic death from a freak stingray attack in 2006, Bob retired to the small town of Kingaroy in Queensland. 

He established another wildlife sanctuary on the property called Camp Chilli, with his second wife, Judy.

But while Australia Zoo welcomes tourists from around the world, Bob urges people to stay away from his 259-hectare bush property. 

Cared for: In January 2008, he received a $1million package when he departed the zoo - which he had founded as Beerwah Reptile Park in 1970 - plus a $100,000-per-year pension. Pictured at the launch of his book, The Last Crocodile Hunter, in Sydney in October 2016

Cared for: In January 2008, he received a $1million package when he departed the zoo - which he had founded as Beerwah Reptile Park in 1970 - plus a $100,000-per-year pension. Pictured at the launch of his book, The Last Crocodile Hunter, in Sydney in October 2016

'We don't encourage people to come here,' Bob said, with reports claiming he 'rarely leaves his home' anymore and has become somewhat of a recluse. 

Now officially retired, he spends his days tending to his animals and bushwalking. 

He has previously said he's not a social person: he's only tried alcohol once as a teenager and admitted that travelling and attending media events 'wears him down'. 

Grief: As the world mourned the beloved Crocodile Hunter, Bob admitted he found himself at a loss as to how to move on with his life without his only son by his side.

Grief: As the world mourned the beloved Crocodile Hunter, Bob admitted he found himself at a loss as to how to move on with his life without his only son by his side.

Bob also revealed his home gets no mobile phone reception, and he drinks 15 cups of Bushells tea a day. 

As the world mourned the beloved Crocodile Hunter, Bob admitted he found himself at a loss as to how to move on with his life without his only son by his side.

He had essentially lost his entire immediate family, as just six years earlier his first wife, Lyn, died in a car accident in February 2000.

Seeking solitude: While Australia Zoo welcomes tourists from around the world, Bob urges people to stay away from his 259-hectare bush property. Pictured at a memorial service for Steve at Australia Zoo in September 2006

Seeking solitude: While Australia Zoo welcomes tourists from around the world, Bob urges people to stay away from his 259-hectare bush property. Pictured at a memorial service for Steve at Australia Zoo in September 2006

'Once we lost Steve, those were difficult times, and a lot of it all I wanted to forget, I suppose,' he told ABC's Australian Story in 2015.

'I basically buried myself in physical work, I didn't want anything to do with people. 

'I had things to get sorted out in my own head and that took a long time to get those sorted out. I didn't want to be like a hermit because that wasn't doing me any good.' 

Grief: 'Once we lost Steve, those were difficult times, and a lot of it all I wanted to forget, I suppose,' he told ABC's Australian Story in 2015. Pictured at the launch of his book, The Last Crocodile Hunter, in Sydney in October 2016

Grief: 'Once we lost Steve, those were difficult times, and a lot of it all I wanted to forget, I suppose,' he told ABC's Australian Story in 2015. Pictured at the launch of his book, The Last Crocodile Hunter, in Sydney in October 2016

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