The Director of the Zoo, Wes Mannion – Steve Irwin's close and longtime friend and collaborator – welcomed us with a heart-warming speech. “People will find inner peace when they rediscover their connection to wildlife,” Wes remarked.

Wes has worked for the Australia Zoo since he was 14. You could see and feel the passion and love he feels for the animals and this most amazing zoo.

He observed that the Irwin family and the whole Australia Zoo are dedicated to peace. They strongly believe that the beauty of nature and wildlife offers something very significant to humanity, and through their work they are trying to bring this closer to us. When we are out in nature or seeing some of these animals up close, Wes said, we are adding to the richness of our life.