Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Hospital
What began as a small avocado shed in Australia has grown into one of the world's largest wildlife hospitals, helping more than 136,000 injured and orphaned animals over the past two decades. In 2004, beloved wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin and his wife, Terri, began transforming the shed in Queensland into a refuge for native Australian animals, fulfilling the lifelong dream of Steve's late mother, who dedicated her life to wildlife rehabilitation. The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital officially opened in 2008 and has since expanded into a state-of-the-art facility equipped with surgical rooms, intensive care units, and specialized veterinary equipment. Today, the hospital treats between 9,000 and 10,000 animals every year, including kangaroos injured in car accidents, orphaned koalas, and sea turtles harmed by plastic pollution. The facility provides care at no cost to the public, with the goal of rehabilitating animals and returning them to the wild whenever possible. Nearly 20 years after Steve's passing, the hospital continues to carry on the Irwin family's legacy of protecting wildlife and giving vulnerable animals a second chance at life.
Image via PEOPLE
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