Zoo denies locking out Bob Irwin

AUSTRALIA Zoo has denied reports of a rift between Bob Irwin, the father of dead "Crocodile Hunter'' Steve Irwin, and his widow Terri.

AUSTRALIA Zoo has denied reports of a rift between Bob Irwin, the father of dead "Crocodile Hunter'' Steve Irwin, and his widow Terri.

 Zoo director Wes Mannion said Bob Irwin had definitely not been banned from the zoo and had simply decided to "go his different way".

Breaking a week of silence from zoo management about the alleged family feud, Mr Mannion said yesterday reports which claimed Mr Irwin was not allowed at the zoo were untrue and he had visited recently.

"He was in here three or four days ago picking up some equipment for his new area," Mr Mannion said yesterday.

"No, there's not a rift. Bob has decided to go his different way."

Mr Mannion said Mr Irwin "hasn't departed per se", but he had little interest in the Beerwah zoo. "I don't think there is any friction there. Bob has had no interest in how the zoo has been run for years," Mr Mannion said. "He has never had a real interest in it, what he does have a real interest in is conservation."

Mr Irwin issued a statement on the weekend saying he had quit the zoo "to keep his son's dream alive".

"Steve's ultimate passion, even from a young boy, was always for the conservation of Australian wildlife and its habitat," Mr Irwin's statement read.

"When Judy (his wife) and I move to our new property we intend to carry on with wildlife rehabilitation and conservation projects."

Mr Mannion said Mr Irwin was always welcome at the zoo.

"It's always been pretty much the same. Bob comes into the zoo two or three times a year and says 'g'day'," Mr Mannion said. "Bob has been a fantastic guy and always will be, and the great thing is he's moved on to a new job which is another conservation property which the zoo has funded."

When asked if Mr Irwin had been locked out of the zoo, Mr Mannion said: "No, no, no".

"He's welcome any time he likes in the reserve, and that's never been a point of contention."

In a press conference two days after his son Steve's death in 2006, in the course of discussing his son's legacy, Mr Irwin said he had retired from the zoo many years ago.

"I still do work on the conservation property (Ironbark Station) and I'm going to help Terri wherever I can to carry on the conservation work," he said then.

Mr Mannion confirmed Terri Irwin was in Australia, but she has not spoken publicly about the claims there is a dispute with Mr Irwin and the zoo.