Bob Irwin hopes to reconnect with Bindi and Robert Irwin

STEVE Irwin’s dad has revealed that he would eventually like to reconnect with Bindi and Robert Irwin, from whom he’s been estranged for years.

BOB Irwin has revealed that he would eventually like to reconnect with Bindi and Robert Irwin who he hasn’t seen in years.

The father of crocodile hunter Steve Irwin appeared on Channel Nine’s Today Extra and was asked if he misses his two grandchildren who he’s currently estranged from.

“Oh of course,” he said.

“But I do have other grandchildren obviously and I spend considerable time with them.”

Bob Irwin told Channel Nine hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger that he explains what caused his strained relationship with Bindi and Robert in his new book, The Last Crocodile Hunter: A Father and Son Legacy.

Bindi Irwin, Robert Irwin and Terri Irwin and Bob Irwin with a tribute to Steve Irwin at Australia Zoo.

In the book which hit shelves yesterday, Irwin wrote that he decided to distance himself from the family when he parted ways with Australia Zoo back in 2008 after being told he was becoming a “disruptive influence”.

“There were personal consequences to leaving the zoo as well, among them that my relationship with Steve’s children, would suffer,” Irwin wrote.

“Naturally that wasn’t something I was happy about. I had so many stories of Steve and my adventures that I would have loved to have told the kids.”

When asked by Campbell this morning if he’d like a connection with Bindi and Robert in the future, Bob said: “At some time it would be pleasant, of course”.

Bindi Irwin celebrates her 18th birthday with Terri Irwin and Robert at Australia Zoo earlier this year. Picture: Claudia Baxter

Bindi Irwin commented on the family feud last year when she walked the red carpet at the AACTA Awards in Sydney.

“Everyone deals with grief differently,” she said to the Daily Mail.

“When my dad passed away he [Bob] chose to distance himself from everything that Dad loved the most ... 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.”

The wildlife warrior added that her grandfather even rejected birthday presents from the family on one occasion.

“There was one year where we sent birthday presents to him and he opened them up and he sent them back.”

You can read an exclusive extract from The Last Crocodile Hunter: A Father and Son Legacy by Bob Irwin, published by Allen and Unwin, here.