Our Kid Editor chats with Bindi Irwin about life in a zoo

Holidays with Kids‘ Kid Editor, Rafferty Laight chats with Bindi Irwin about Australia Zoo, schoolwork while travelling and helping endangered animals

What is it like to live in a zoo?

I feel so very blessed to live at Australia Zoo; every day brings a new and different adventure. I have the most incredible backyard on Earth and I’m able to share it with people who visit from around the world.

It must be awesome to hang out with all the animals at Australia Zoo. Which do you think is the most fascinating?

I love crocodiles because they are like modern-day dinosaurs. They’ve been on the planet for millions of years and have learned the true art of survival. However, I must admit that echidnas have a special place in my heart as well. They are monotremes, which means that they’re egg-laying mammals and there are only two monotremes in the world; one is the echidna and the second is the platypus.

I like them too, I saw one in the wild once and it was really cute. My mum says I eat more than a herd of elephants. How much does an elephant actually eat?

Well, you might eat a lot, which is brilliant, but I’m not sure if you could quite manage the same 200kg every day that elephants devour! Elephants love their fruit and veggies best, so I’m sure you can give it a good go… however, I think these giant creatures might still win.

I think it would be close. Your job is epic! What is the best thing about it?

Getting to spend so much time travelling the world spreading our conservation message, experiencing so many beautiful wild places and spending time with spectacular wildlife is such a blessing. My goal is to dedicate my life to speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves as a Wildlife Warrior. I hope that I am able to make a difference and empower others to help the planet in their own backyards. We must work together to create a beautiful world for the generations to come.

That is so, so cool. How do you do your schoolwork when you travel?

My little brother Robert and I both participate in Distance Education for school, which really works for us, because it’s a programme that fits around our busy schedule. If we have something that we have to do in the zoo or if we have a filming project, school just fits around all of it. The other great thing about distance education is that I don’t have any homework!

Which is the most amazing place you’ve ever been to?

That is a challenging question because there are so many beautiful places in the world. To be honest I love Australia. I live in the most spectacular country on planet earth. I enjoy travelling around my own backyard! I could really explore Queensland for years and not experience everything! I think that I’m very lucky to live in such a gorgeous part of the world. Here in Queensland we have everything from the Great Barrier Reef, to Dinosaur trails, to tropical rainforests, to mountain ranges, to beaches and (most importantly, my home) Australia Zoo.

What’s your favourite TV Show to watch?

I love the television series How I Met Your Mother, and it’s nice that I can watch it any time on Netflix. But I’m also a great documentary lover as well, and most nights will see me and my family watching a documentary at home after dinner.

I like documentaries too. What can kids like me do to help save endangered animals?

Become a Wildlife Warrior! Being a Wildlife Warrior is not just a title, it describes who you are and your attitude. There are so many things that each of us can do to help. Even small things like recycling, planting a tree, turning off the tap when you brush your teeth, going to the beach or a local park and having a clean-up day with your friends, all helps. If you would like to get even more involved, we have so many conservation programs that you can help with by becoming a Joey Ambassador for Australia Zoo’s non-profit organisation Wildlife Warriors. Our Joey Ambassadors help to spread the messages about the issues facing wildlife and wild places. They also assist through fundraising to support conservation projects such as Save the Tasmanian Devil or Tiger 511.

To find out more about Joey Ambassadors or our projects go to wildlifewarriors.org.au. Never forget that you have a voice. Even though we are young, we still have a voice and can use it. As kids we are the next voters, the next decision makers and the next generation that is going to make a difference on our planet. Be strong and always believe. If you do that, you will be able to undertake and accomplish anything.

Thanks so much for answering my questions, Bindi. You’re awesome!