Robert Irwin, the son of legendary wildlife expert Steve Irwin and an accomplished photographer in his own right, has revealed that equipment theft poses a greater threat to his work than the dangerous animals he regularly photographs. The young conservationist, who is currently competing on Dancing With the Stars, recently shared his ongoing struggles with thieves targeting his expensive camera gear during international travel.
Speaking to People magazine, Irwin described a particularly alarming incident that occurred while traveling through Nairobi. He had been forced to check his hard case containing camera equipment because it was too large for carry-on luggage, a decision that immediately made him nervous. "I was flying through Nairobi, and we touched down, and I have my hard case full of camera gear," Irwin explained. "I had to check it because it didn't fit as carry-on." As any traveling photographer knows, being separated from valuable camera equipment creates significant anxiety.
The situation quickly escalated when Irwin's distinctive camera case failed to appear on the baggage carousel. His instincts told him something was wrong, prompting him to take action. "I just went, 'That's strange.' I don't know what it was, but I just went, 'I'm just going to check the conveyor belt one more time,'" he recalled. It was during this second check that he spotted his missing equipment.
What Irwin discovered was a brazen theft attempt in progress. "I walked back and out of the corner of my eye, I see the Pelican case. It's on a trolley and someone's walking with it out the front door stealing it," he told People. The photographer noted that his camera case is easily identifiable, covered in stickers and having a unique appearance that "you couldn't mistake for someone else's." This distinctive look likely saved his equipment from being permanently lost.
Fortunately, Irwin was able to confront the thief and recover his valuable gear. The confrontation was brief but successful. "He looks at me and he looks around at everyone and gives it to me and then just takes off running," Irwin described. However, this incident was far from an isolated occurrence in his career as a traveling wildlife photographer.
The frequency of these theft attempts has become a persistent concern for Irwin. "But this happens all the time. It happens everywhere, all around the world," he emphasized, highlighting the global nature of the problem facing photographers who travel with expensive equipment. This revelation underscores the unique challenges faced by professional photographers who must transport valuable gear across international borders.
In a 2023 interview with PetaPixel, Irwin reflected on his dual relationship with cameras and photography. "I've always had something to do with the camera. Whether I'm in front or behind and then navigating how you can use that platform to create positive change – to get your images, voice, story, and what you stand for out into the world," he explained. This perspective demonstrates his commitment to using photography as a tool for conservation and education, following in his father's footsteps.
Irwin also discussed the technical and creative challenges of wildlife photography during the same interview. "The difficult part is understanding your subject, knowing the story that you want to tell, figuring out how you can put yourself in a position to get an image that no one else has gotten before you. That's where it starts to get tricky, and then navigating the world and having a platform with whatever your craft is," he said. These insights reveal the complexity of professional wildlife photography beyond just the equipment concerns.
