Bindi Irwin brushes off backlash over her response to a struggling emu farm owner

Bindi Irwin has refused to engage with trolls who called her ‘pathetic’ over her response to an American farm owner whose emu had fallen sick.

The wildlife warrior, 24, chose to ignore her haters as she returned to Instagram amid the backlash on Tuesday, opting instead to post a romantic tribute to her husband Chandler Powell, 25.

‘A #flashback just because I love this handsome guy so much. This photo was taken right after we got engaged,’ she wrote next to a photo of the couple embracing at Australia Zoo in July 2019.

Bindi Irwin has refused to engage with trolls who called her ‘pathetic’ over her response to an American farm owner whose emu had fallen sick. Rather than hitting back, she posted this throwback photo to Instagram on Tuesday alongside a tribute to her husband Chandler Powell

‘@chandlerpowell, you make me happier than I ever thought possible,’ she added. 

In the photo, Bindi offered a glimpse of her engagement ring as she ecstatically threw her arms around her beau’s shoulders.

Chandler responded in the comments section: ‘I’m the luckiest man alive. You inspire me to be the best I can be and I love you. You are amazing.’

Bindi said the photo was taken moments after Chandler proposed at Australia Zoo in July 2019

Chandler (pictured with Bindi and their daughter Grace Warrior, two) responded in the comments: ‘I’m the luckiest man alive. You inspire me to be the best I can be and I love you’

The post came hours after Bindi was slammed by cruel trolls for her response to an American farm owner’s plea for help after she lost 99 per cent of her birds to avian influenza.

Taylor Blake, also known as ‘Eco Sister’ on Twitter, sent a desperate message to the Irwin clan last week after she thought her beloved emu and TikTok fan favourite Emmanuel had contracted the virus.

She offered to fly any of their contacts or members of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to her Knuckle Bump Farm in South Florida to help save Emmanuel.

The post came hours after Bindi was slammed by cruel trolls for her response to an American farm owner’s plea for help after she lost 99 per cent of her birds to avian influenza  

Bindi responded by saying she wasn’t able to provide too much support because the team at the hospital had never treated birds with avian flu, but did send her ‘love and prayers’ to the farm.

Taylor thanked Bindi for replying, writing: ‘Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, Bindi. Your response alone means more than you know. Please send my love to your family!’

But some fans flocked to social media to slam Bindi’s response, with one calling it ‘pathetic’ and ‘useless’.

Taylor Blake (pictured), also known as ‘Eco Sister’ on Twitter, sent a desperate plea to the Irwins last week after she thought her beloved emu Emmanuel had contracted avian influenza 

‘What a pathetic, useless reply. Zero effort to help when you’re in a supposedly unique position to use your influence and contacts to actually help her. Thoughts and prayers are cheap. You are unimpressive and that’s being polite,’ they said.

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

A third person wrote: ‘So you don’t know of anyone in your network who could help? One would assume it wouldn’t be hard for you to ask around or spread the word in the hopes someone with the right experience comes forward, rather than writing this form letter response pretending you care.’ 

Bindi responded by saying she wasn’t able to provide too much support because the team at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital had never treated birds with avian flu, but did send her ‘love and prayers’ to the farm 

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While some fans criticised Bindi, others praised her for responding to Taylor.

‘I’m sure just the response lifted spirits of recovery for Emmanuel. That’s all one could even hope for,’ one supporter said.

‘I think it is so cool that Bindi Irwin replied. Still praying for Emmanuel,’ another agreed.

‘Thank you, Irwins. We are all [praying] for Emmanuel. He is deeply loved around the world,’ a third wrote.

Some fans flocked to social media to label Bindi’s response ‘pathetic and useless’

Taylor has been sharing the story of her sick emu Emmanuel on social media since her farm in South Florida was struck down with the epidemic.

She explained she had lost every chicken and duck as well as many geese, turkeys and swans.

Taylor sent a desperate plea to the Irwin clan after she believed Emmanuel had contracted the flu; however, he later tested negative to the virus.

While some fans criticised Bindi, others praised her for supporting and responding to Taylor

She expressed her admiration for the family while asking for advice.

‘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,’ she tweeted.

‘I need help saving my emu, Emmanuel. I will pay to fly anyone to us, if they can help, no questions asked.’ 

Taylor has been sharing her story on social media since her Knuckle Bump Farm in South Florida was struck down with the epidemic. She thought her beloved bird Emmanuel was the latest bird to contract the flu, prompting Taylor to send a desperate plea to the Irwin clan

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Bindi responded: ‘Thank you so much for reaching out.’

‘Though our Wildlife Hospital which has treated over 100,000 animals including emus, we have never treated an emu with this particular disease,’ she added.

‘We will need to rely on our fellow animal experts with more experience with this avian flu.’

Taylor Blake is pictured with her beloved pet emu 

Bindi continued: ‘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 their area can be of assistance. Sending love and light your way from our entire family.’ 

Bindi (centre, with her mother Terri Irwin, left, and brother Robert, right) responded: ‘Thank you so much for reaching out. Though our Wildlife Hospital which has treated over 100,000 animals including emus, we have never treated an emu with this particular disease’

Taylor has since revealed Emmanuel tested negative for avian flu and she believes her beloved bird instead fell ill from stress.

‘Emmanuel Todd Lopez tested negative for avian influenza at two separate labs, swab, fecal and blood. He does not have the virus, and is not actively shedding the virus,’ she tweeted. 

‘We believe this all stemmed from stress. Emus are highly susceptible to stress. He was incredibly overwhelmed by the state coming in and euthanising our flock (although it was necessary, it was still very stressful on him). He stopped eating the day they depopulated.’

Bindi is the daughter of Steve Irwin, who died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland