Bindi Irwin wells up as she says goodbye to beloved ‘family member’

Bindi Irwin has broken down in tears in an Instagram video where she and the rest of the family said goodbye to one of her favourite animals.

Bindi Irwin has broken down in tears as she farewelled a “family member” who was one of the favourite animals at Queensland’s Australia Zoo.

Rhino the rhinoceros iguana died at the ripe old age of 42.

Born in 1980, he was certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest known rhinoceros iguana.

“I’m going to try really hard not to cry, but I’m crying immediately,” Bindi said.

“It’s like saying good bye to a family member.

“In a very real way it’s an absolute end of an era.”

Bindi spoke on an Instagram video which featured the Irwin clan including mum Terri, brother Robert and her husband Chandler Powell.

In happier times: Rhino the iguana is presented his record by Chandler Powell and Bindi, Terri and Robert Irwin.

In the video, she held a box with Rhino’s ashes and told viewers the family wanted to share the moment with everyone and to raise awareness of an endangered species.

Rhino was remembered as being full of “sass,” for chasing family members around the paddock and for munching on his favourite meal – hibiscus flowers.

“His quality of life was 100 per cent every day. He lived a brilliant life and that’s what you hold onto,” Robert said.

Bindi Irwin with Rhino.

Rhino was almost as big as a young Robert.

In one picture in the clip, a baby Robert could seen almost being dwarfed by Rhino.

“I saw him as this absolute dinosaur,” he said.

“He was this big old grandpa you just fell in love with.”

Rhinoceros iguanas are mostly found on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola and are endangered with around 10,000 to 16,000 remaining in the wild.

Their name comes for a bony horn which resembles that found of its namesake rhinoceros.

The family spread Rhino’s ashes at Australia Zoo. Picture: Instagram.

Bindi’s mum, Terri, said Rhino was born just a year after she and her late husband Steve got married and before Bindi and Robert were born.

It was all too much for Bindi. Picture: Instagram.

“He’s a ground dwelling lizard which was cute as he couldn’t climb,” Ms Irwin said.

“So he’d be like ‘I can’t climb, bring the food to me,’

“He had these little jowls that were just so squishy. And if you started stroking his face very softly he would close his eyes and put his face up to you and you could sit like that forever.”

Bindi said of Rhino: “Wow, he just lived a life.”

“We have to thank our entire team for loving him so much.

“Our reptile team dedicated countless hours to making sure Rhino was healthy and happy and living his best life.”

The video concluded with Rhino’s ashes being scattered beneath a tree near a hibiscus plant in Australia Zoo’s rhinoceros enclosure.

Originally published as Bindi Irwin wells up as she says goodbye to beloved ‘family member’