Terri Raines was born in Eugene, Oregon (USA), on the 20 July, 1964. Her father drove heavy-haul trucks and would often bring home wildlife that had been injured on the road. This instilled in Terri a love for wildlife and a desire to help animals from a very early age.

At 20, Terri was running the family business, worked part-time at an emergency veterinary hospital and operated a wildlife rehabilitation organisation called ‘Cougar Country’, rehabilitating and releasing predatory mammals such as cougars, bears and bobcats. It was not long before she was caring for more than 300 animals each year.

During a holiday to Australia, Terri visited the ‘Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park’. She was captivated by the enthusiastic man in the khakis, talking so passionately about crocodiles. Terri introduced herself, realising they both had in common their passion for wildlife and conservation. This chance encounter would change their lives forever!

Steve and Terri married on 4 June, 1992. The wedding was a huge occasion, with all of Terri’s friends, family and colleagues realising they would be saying goodbye as she started her life in Australia with Steve. Terri and Steve immediately began their life together with wildlife documentary filming, an amazing zoo, and later two incredible children, along with a stack of adventures.

Steve and Terri’s wildlife documentaries brought Australia Zoo to the world stage, attracting visitors from across the world to the Sunshine Coast. While Terri lost her soulmate Steve, she continues to be a passionate wildlife spokesperson and conservation icon. She actively speaks out and supports conservation issues around the world. Terri is determined to dedicate the rest of her life to wildlife and conservation, fulfilling Steve’s legacy with the support of Bindi and Robert.

Outstanding Achievements:

2024

• Held the hugely successful Steve Irwin Gala at Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
• The Crocodile Hunter Lodge wins five prestigious awards at the 2024 Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards, celebrating our passion for the natural world
• The Crocodile Hunter Lodge has been named 2024 World’s Best Nature Hotel and 2024 Australasia’s Best Nature Hotel at the Best Boutique Hotel Awards
• Terri participated in “Wiggle Talk – A Podcast for Parents”

2023

• Successfully hatched Irwin’s Turtle at Australia Zoo, the only zoological facility in the world to house the species
• Australia Zoo wins “Global Travel Establishment of the Year” Award
• Appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox
• The Crocodile Hunter Lodge wins “Best Nature Hotel Australasia”, “Best New Hotel Australasia”, and “World’s Best Nature Hotel” in the Boutique Hotel Club Awards
• Relaunched book My Steve with a new cover
• Terri joined Instagram
• Inducted into the “Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame”
• The Crocodile Hunter Lodge awarded the “Luxury Boutique Lodge” at the World Luxury Hotel Awards

2022

• Opened The Crocodile Hunter Lodge and Warrior Restaurant and Bar
• Opened a soft release area at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge for rehabilitated wildlife from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
• Filmed a major campaign with Paris Hilton for Uber Eats
• Continued to battle the road proposed through the Steve Irwin Reserve, alongside First Nations people
• Opened the “Perry MacFarlane Intensive Care Ward” at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
• Crikey! it’s the Irwins won “Outstanding Cast” in the American Reality Television Awards
• Featured in Tourism Australia’s “With Love, From Aus”
• Petitioned the Government to further protect crocodiles in Queensland
• Formalised a partnership with the Australian National University to establish a palm cockatoo research project

2021

• Became a Grandmother to Grace Warrior Irwin Powell!
• Launched Australia Zoo’s reimagined YouTube channel
• Worked with The University of Queensland on studying microbiome therapy in koalas
• Filmed season 4 of Crikey! It’s the Irwins
• Partnered with the University of Queensland on a project testing frogs admitted to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for chytrid
• Released 10,000th koala rehabilitated from Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
• Collaborated on a post release koala monitoring project with The University of Queensland
• Continuing to protect the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve from the development of a gazetted road
• Crikey! It’s the Irwins nominated for two Critics Choice Awards: “Best Unstructured Series” & “Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series”

2020

• Managed Australia Zoo through 78 days of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Filmed season three of Crikey! It’s the Irwins

2019

• Began campaigning to overturn legislation that allows the harvesting of wild crocodile eggs
• 24th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards nomination for Crikey! It’s the Irwins
• Filmed season two of Crikey! It’s the Irwins

2018

• Lead role on television series Crikey! It’s the Irwins

2015

• Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership in Queensland
• Honorary Doctor of Science degree from The University of Queensland, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to conservation and environmental management efforts

2014

• Australian of the Year Award nominee
• InStyle Australia, Women of Style Environmental Award
• Honoured with naming of new species of spider Leichhardteus terriirwinae

2013

• Successfully ended six-year campaign to prevent bauxite strip mining on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve
• Lead role in television series Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors

2009

• Achieved Australian Citizenship

2007

• Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Award
• Wrote and published book My Steve

2006

• Honorary Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for “outstanding dedication to wildlife conservation and the tourism industry”
• Ernst & Young, Northern Region Social Entrepreneur of the Year winner

2002

• Lead role in The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
• Established conservation charity Wildlife Warriors

1992

• Started filming documentary series The Crocodile Hunter

1988

• Began work at the local emergency veterinary hospital

1986

• Started Cougar Country

1984

• Took over the family business

1982

• At only 18 years old, Terri bought her first house in Eugene, Oregon