Ep 7. Swimming with Steve

In season 2 episode 7 of Crikey! It's the Irwins, titled Swimming with Steve, the Irwin family is joined by a very special guest at the Australia Zoo - Steve Irwin's best friend, Wes Mannion. Wes travels from California to Australia to visit the Irwins and reminisce about old times with Steve, and to participate in some wildlife adventures with the family, including a swim with an 800-pound alligator named Graham.

The episode starts with Wes arriving at the zoo and being greeted by Terri and Robert Irwin. Wes explains how he felt like he was coming home and how good it is to see the Irwins again, considering he had not been back to the zoo since Steve's passing.

The first adventure the group goes on is a swim with Graham, the massive alligator. The Irwins explain how they need to move Graham from one enclosure to another, and the safest way to do so is by having him swim from one side of a pond to the other. The group suits up in wetsuits and goes into the pond with Graham, who is initially wary of the intruders. But soon he realizes he's not in danger and gets curious about the humans in his pond. Wes is particularly fascinated by the experience, and he explains how he and Steve had always talked about swimming with an alligator together, but they never had the chance.

Next, the Irwins take Wes to meet their bearded dragon, Ivy, who has an eye condition that needs frequent monitoring. They explain how Steve had rescued Ivy as a broke baby, and now she is a much-loved member of the Zoo family. Wes is impressed by Ivy's perky and personable nature.

The last adventure of the day is with a wombat named TD. The Irwins have had TD since he was a baby, and now he is a teenager with a bit of an attitude. Terri explains how they've been trying to figure out how to teach TD some manners, so he doesn't become a menace to the staff or the other animals. The group sets up a treat hunt for TD and Wes helps out by making the treat ball. In the end, TD gets the hang of it and shows how adorable a wombat can be.

Throughout the episode, Wes shares stories about his time with Steve and how he would have loved to be there on these adventures with the Irwins. The episode closes with a touching moment where Wes talks about how even though Steve is gone, his legacy lives on through the work of the Irwin family and how proud he is of them.

Overall, Swimming with Steve is an emotional and heartwarming episode of Crikey! It's the Irwins that showcases the bond between Steve's closest friend and his family. The episode offers a glimpse into the daily workings of the zoo and how the Irwins carry on Steve's mission of preserving wildlife and educating the public about conservation.