‘I need help’: Bindi Irwin under fire for ‘pathetic’ response to fan’s urgent plea

Beloved animal conservationist Bindi Irwin has faced intense backlash on social media, slammed for her “pathetic” response to a fan’s urgent plea for help.

TikTok star and hobby farmer, Taylor Blake, reached out to the young Australian on behalf of Emmanuel the emu who has become unwell following an outbreak of avian influenza on her farm.

@BindiIrwin @TerriIrwin @RobertIrwin

I have been a fan of your family for as long as I can remember, I am reaching out to you in total desperation right now. I need help saving my emu, Emmanuel.

I will pay to fly anyone to us, if they can help, no questions asked!

— eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 17, 2022

He needs someone experienced in physical therapy. I am also open to any other methods of treatment: acupuncture, UV therapy, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, etc. I just need someone with expertise. PLEASE HELP????????

— eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 17, 2022

Knuckle Bump Farm has over 2.4 million followers and Emmanuel is an adored fan favourite.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Knuckle Bump Farms (@knucklebumpfarms)

Bindi responded to the desperate call for help saying the Australian Zoo’s wildlife hospital had never come into contact with this disease but wished Blake well on her endeavor to save her cherished emu.

“Hi there, thank you so much for reaching out,” Bindi’s response read.

“Through our Wildlife Hospital which has treated over 100,000 animals including emus, we have never treated an emu with this particular disease. We will need to rely on our fellow animal experts with more experience with this avian flu.

“Our hearts are with you and we appreciate that you care so deeply and have such compassion for darling Emmanuel. We believe that all of us need to have love for each and every individual animal.

“We hope that someone who has greater experience in this area can be of assistance. Sending love and light your way from our entire family.”

Fans of Emmanuel who deemed Bindi’s response as inadequate, slammed the Australian, some going as far as saying her late father Steve Irwin would have been “ashamed” that she didn’t do more.

Bindi, your father would be ashamed of your response. He would have bent over backwards to help them anyway he could. Taylor I hope your Emmanuel recovers soon. ????

— Roberta Manley ???????? (@RobinHanley14) October 24, 2022

That wasn’t even a reply from Bindi Irwin you can tell it was composed by a team maybe the Australian Zoo and it looks like Bindi sent it !!

— Jenny GMC ???? (@Gmc14Jenny) October 24, 2022

Thoughts and prayers are nice, but is there not someone you could recommend, given your family has been in this field for years?

— TRoss (@trexyecart) October 18, 2022

However, fans of Bindi rushed to her defense, admonishing the nasty comments for being “trolls”.

To all of the people calling her pathetic, what are YOU doing to help the Emu? This family goes above and beyond for wildlife. You people are just trolls who sit behind a computer putting others down. So who’s the one who actually pathetic?

— Aria Starr (@AriaStarr242) October 24, 2022

I don’t think Bindi was being unfair or pathetic at all. She was just being honest. I think eco sister was expecting too much. Hopefully she can find someone with knowledge of emu avian flu to help her.

— Zelda Jones (@ZeldaJo30365677) October 24, 2022

Geez give Bindi a break, she stated that emus aren’t their speciality, she sent her best wishes

— Sue Montague (@SueMontague2) October 23, 2022

Since reaching out for help from Bindi, Blake has announced that Emmanuel the emu is on the mend, returning negative swabs for Avian Influenza with the family now working under the assumption that he was suffering from stress.