The Best Tail For Balance | Bindi Irwin Wants Kids To Become ‘Wildlife Warriors’

Feb 27, 2025

Bindi Irwin, conservationist and daughter of the legendary Steve Irwin, inspires young audiences to become 'Wildlife Warriors' through her new children's book about Australia Zoo. Talia Moore, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, discusses the biomechanics of mammal tails, revealing how their complex structures enhance balance and could influence robotics. The duo highlights the connection between nature's design and technological innovation, showcasing the potential for better robots inspired by the tails of agile animals.

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ANECDOTE

Steve Irwin's Passion

Bindi Irwin's father, Steve Irwin, was known as the "Crocodile Hunter" and was a passionate conservationist.
He was described as a "living hurricane" due to his energetic and enthusiastic approach to wildlife.

ANECDOTE

Wildlife Warrior Motto

Steve Irwin coined the term "wildlife warrior," which became the family motto.
It encourages people to advocate for animals and make a difference for the planet.

INSIGHT

Parenthood and Conservation

Becoming a parent deepened Bindi Irwin's commitment to conservation.
She wants future generations to have clean air, water, and abundant wildlife.

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The bone and joint structures in mammal tails help them keep their balance. Could those benefits be adapted for robots? And, in her first children’s book, conservationist Bindi Irwin takes little readers on a journey through Australia Zoo.

In Search Of The Best Tail For Balance

If you have met a cat, you’ve probably at some point been amazed by how acrobatic they are. They’re able to reorient themselves effortlessly, even in midair. It turns out that a lot of that twistiness comes down to having a top-tier tail. While most reptile tails can swing only in one plane of movement, mammal tails have more joints, leading to better inertial control. That lets mammals tweak their balance better, much as holding a balance pole can help an acrobat navigate a tightrope.

In a recent study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, researchers explored the biomechanics of different tails, and considered how a better tail could help build a better robot. Dr. Talia Moore, a roboticist at the University of Michigan, and Dr. Ceri Weber, a cellular and developmental biology postdoc at UC San Diego, join Host Flora Lichtman to talk tails.

Bindi Irwin Encourages Kids To Become ‘Wildlife Warriors’

Almost 30 years ago, conservationists Terri Irwin and the late Steve Irwin captured the world’s attention with their show “The Crocodile Hunter.” It introduced millions of people to Australia Zoo and the strange, often scary, sometimes cute, critters from Down Under.

Now, Terri and her children—Bindi and Robert—are at the helm of the zoo, which is the setting for Bindi’s new children’s book, You Are a Wildlife Warrior!: Saving Animals & the Planet. In it, Bindi takes little readers and her own daughter, Grace, on an adventure through the zoo.

Host Flora Lichtman talks with Bindi about her family’s legacy, how motherhood fuels her approach to conservation, and what it’s like to run a zoo.

Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.

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