Bindi Irwin was forced to miss the annual Steve Irwin Gala over the weekend due to an unforeseen medical emergency, according to her brother Robert Irwin.
Robert Irwin told People that his sister's appendix ruptured, requiring surgery, and their mother Terri Irwin was taking time to be by her side.
"She's going to be OK, but surgery -- out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them," the 21-year-old said.
The Irwin family had traveled to Las Vegas to attend the May 10 charity event, which raises money for wildlife conservation efforts.
"She came to Las Vegas and was ready to come to the gala, put on a brave face in a lot of discomfort and a lot of pain and said, 'Nope, I'm just going to tough it out, I'm going to go for it,'" Robert Irwin recalled. "But the surgeon said, 'No, your appendix is going. That thing's gotta come out.' Health has to come first."
He told People that his sister will "make a speedy recovery" despite the setback.
Robert Irwin attended the gala, held at the Bellagio Resort, solo, sporting a khaki suit and bowtie for the black-tie event and sharing photos and videos from the khaki carpet, including one in which he can be seen posing with a crocodile.
"The Steve Irwin Gala Las Vegas was a HUGE success. Once again, Vegas you brought the energy for an unforgettable evening," he wrote in an Instagram post.
"Thank you to everyone who joined us, to celebrate the greatest Wildlife Warrior on earth, and raise vital funds for conservation," he added, referring to his late father Steve Irwin, whose conservation legacy the family continues to champion today.
Bindi Irwin has opened up previously about her health challenges, going public in 2023 about receiving a diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition the World Health Organization defines as "a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus," which can cause pelvic pain and/or infertility, and depression and/or anxiety, among other life-impacting symptoms. The 26-year-old zookeeper and conservationist eventually underwent "extensive" surgery for the condition.
"Now I'm a completely new person," the mom of one said after the surgery. "I'm actually able to go on a walk with my family. I'm able to do the conservation work that I am so, so passionate about."
