Robert Irwin shares how Australia connects him with his late father Steve

Robert Irwin may be in the bright lights of Hollywood as a rival to Season 34 of Stars and Dance with the Stars, but Australia is always at home.

The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist united first class with the secret lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt and partner Mark Baras last Tuesday, September 16th.

Steve passed away at the age of 44 after being stabbed and attacked while filming on a Buttreef off the coast of Australia on September 4, 2006.

People Puzzler Crossword is here! How quickly can it be resolved? Play now!

“It’s where I feel his energy and his passion more than anywhere else,” Robert said.

“That’s a big part of living here,” he said. “It’s so easy to get out anywhere and forget everything. You feel like a part of something much bigger than you.”

For Robert, his father has always been “embodied by passion, embodied by 100% of life.”

“If Australia were people, it would be my father,” Robert told the outlet. “Love your wildlife, be passionate and have a spirit of interaction and friendship with everyone. He’s just a superhero to me.”

Outside of DWTS, Robert continues his father’s mission through his job at the Australian Zoo, working with rehabilitated wildlife along with his 61-year-old mother, Terry, 27, and his brother-in-law, Chandler Powell, 27.

Robert told people earlier this month that he hopes DWT will spread its wildlife conservation message to a wider audience.

“In my work, I can see two sides of the same coin,” he said. “Nature’s beauty is immersed in us every day, but we can see the absolute atrocities happening in nature. So there’s no two ways to do that. We’re going through very tough times with planets and climate change.”

He also finds fun ways to honor his father, including his wardrobe and dance moves, and dives completely into his DWTS experience.

You won’t miss the story. Sign up for people’s free daily newsletters and stay up to date with what people have to offer, from celebrity news to stories of fascinating human interests.

Dancing with the Stars will air on Tuesday at 8pm ET and on PT on ABC and will be aired simultaneously on Disney+. The show will be streamed on Hulu the next day.