Prince William has received an unusual namesake tribute in the form of a crocodile. Australian TV presenter and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin has named a 12-foot, 6-inch saltwater crocodile after the Prince of Wales. Irwin shared the news on Instagram and X, posting videos of both William and his reptilian namesake alongside a lengthy caption explaining the tribute.
Details behind the new tribute honoring Prince William
Australia-based environmentalist Robert Irwin has bestowed an unusual honor on Prince William by naming a crocodile after him. According to Irwin’s post on X, the reptile measures an impressive 12 feet, 6 inches long and is a saltwater crocodile. The animal is also the 300th crocodile tagged as part of their world-leading research project at the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve.
In the caption, Irwin explained that he chose to name the crocodile after the Prince of Wales to honor William’s “remarkable commitment” to conservation. He also noted that the tribute marks the halfway point of William’s environmental initiative, The Earthshot Prize.
Irwin further revealed that researchers fitted a small tracker to William the crocodile. The device is expected to provide “a decade of invaluable data – all to benefit the conservation of this species and its ecosystem.”
Irwin also tagged the official Instagram account for the Earthshot Prize in his post. Interestingly, The Royal Observer reported that William himself liked the Instagram post. The Earthshot Prize’s account also reacted in the comments, writing: “300 Crocs! Amazing news,” accompanied by a crocodile emoji.
Fans on X were equally amused and enthusiastic about the unexpected tribute. One fan commented: “What a natural partnership between His Royal Highness the Prince William and the class act that is Robert Irwin, bravo!!!!!”
A second fan wrote: “This is incredible- I loved Steve Irwin and I’m so proud of what Robert has achieved and love his awesome support for Prince William.”
A third fan penned: “Somewhere out there, a crocodile is now carrying the royal name. And hopefully is every bit as grand and regal as Prince William himself!”
A fourth fan chimed in: “You are awesome, Robert. Thanks for always honoring our Prince of Wales, William.”
