IS THIS THE END OF AUSTRALIA ZOO?
Ththe wildlifeildlif warriori iis worriedid aboutbt ththe future as Bindi gets ready to say goodbye
Bindi Irwin’s highly anticipated wedding to her American beau was supposed to change everything for her mum Terri.
The 300 invites had gone out, the guest swag purchased and the scene was set for the nation’s biggest celebrity wedding in more than a decade.
But when COVID-19 struck and derailed Bindi’s big day with wakeboarder Chandler Powell, a distraught Terri knew that it would hurt more than just her daughter’s nuptials.
Sources tell Woman’s Day the family’s world-famous zoo was facing financial challenges before the virus shut down their park.
“There haven’t been enough bums on seats in the Crocoseum for years now, and they’ve poured a lot of finances into building a new elephant exhibit that still isn’t finished. Everyone’s been wondering how that’s impacting the bottom
line,” a source tells Woman’s Day exclusively. “Even on public holiday weekends, the zoo hasn’t been at full capacity, so you have to wonder if their expensive rescue efforts and park maintenance has left them with some financial headaches. Terri was hoping that by holding Bindi’s wedding at the zoo, it would renew public interest.”
CASH INJECTION
The zoo is now hoping for a cash injection to help with the care of the animals by selling wedding favours to fans, with Chandler, 23, taking to Instagram to sell the personalised candles that were meant as gifts for guests for $50 each.
“They’re also relying on big donations from celebrity mates like Russell Crowe, to help keep their wildlife hospital going,” says a source, who adds that their plans to televise the downsized nuptials on US channel Animal Planet more than a month later on April 18 “smacks of another moneymaking exercise”.
Making matters worse for Terri, 55, is her sad suspicion that 21-year-old Bindi and Chandler might have plans on leaving the zoo and moving to the States – permanently.
“Bindi sold her wedding pictures to an American magazine, and is focusing all her efforts on her US TV deal with Animal Planet. The fact that they’re doing all their press there rather than in Australia is telling,” says a source.
“Plus Chandler has lived with them at the zoo for four years now, and he wants to go home to the States to be closer to his family for a while. It’s only fair.
“They have the chance to be huge stars there, and Bindi’s a shrewd businesswoman and knows she needs to strike while the iron is hot. Terri wouldn’t begrudge them a chance like this, but it couldn’t come at a worse time.
“Bindi’s the biggest draw at Australia Zoo – when people know she’s hosting shows, the ticket sales increase. Terri is torn between needing Bindi to save her father’s zoo and therefore his legacy, and allowing her the freedom to create her own.
“It’s a poignant time for them to be at such a crossroads – in a few weeks they were supposed to be celebrating the 50th birthday of the zoo, but Terri’s sick with the knowledge that instead she’ll probably be spending the day finding ways to balance her books.
“Between the virus and fear of Bindi moving overseas, it’s not looking great for Australia Zoo.”
‘Between the virus and fear of Bindi moving, it’s not looking great’