Mr Irwin also touched on recent speculation about whether a family rift had triggered his decision to walk away from the zoo , that he and his late wife founded 36 years ago.
He said some of the reports had been accurate and others were not, but he had no intention of discussing private family matters in the media.
"I just felt that it was better for everybody concerned if I left Australia Zoo and Judy and I and all our friends were able to continue Steve's work the way I believe it should be done," he said.
"I don't see why my family life and my personal issues should be aired publicly and ... um, there would be no way that I will discuss those with the media."
However, Bob did confirm that he and the zoo’s management did not always see eye to eye. He said it felt strange but not especially sad to leave.
“The problem I had was that the management and I didn’t agree on certain aspects of Australia Zoo after Steve’s passing …because most times I went into Australia Zoo, I would have a different sort of opinion with somebody…or I may have an idea and it would not be listened to,” Bob said.
“Fairly minor things on their own but I just felt that it was better for everybody concerned if I left Australia Zoo and (my wife) Judy and I and all our friends were able to continue Steve’s work the way I believe it should be done.”
Bob said he did have a sense of sadness about leaving Ironbark, the zoo’s conservation property he had managed for the past nine years, but added that was because it was work he had had done for his son and a project they had discussed.
He said he had always poured his own earnings back into the zoo and had no assets of his own, but the zoo had agreed to provide him with a “redundancy package or pension” which would enable he and Judy to have a property, a house and a small income.
