The daughter of the television naturalist Steve Irwin has given her first interview since he was killed by a stingray and asked his fans not to take it out on the animals.

Bindi Irwin, eight, said she was determined to follow in her father's footsteps and had not developed any fear of animals despite the circumstances of his death.

Mr Irwin died while filming a documentary series on Australia's Great Barrier Reef when a stingray barb pierced his chest and went through his heart.

But just six weeks on from his death Bindi has resumed filming her own wildlife series, "Bindi the Jungle Girl", for the Discovery Kids network.

She said: "Some people think that I would be afraid of them, but I’m never, ever afraid of an animal.

"I just get excited and (with) some that are dangerous I just think, ’Oooh! What’s going to happen?’ and things like that."

She added: "I'm trying to get across the message that don't be afraid of animals, they're just put on this earth to help the environment and everything like that."

The documentary will open with animated shots of Bindi and Steve in a jungle, accompanied by a theme song with lyrics, "The Croc Hunter taught her/ and now his only daughter/ is Bindi the Jungle Girl."

Bindi, who touched thousands with an emotional tribute to her father at a public memorial service for him, will then appear alongside Mr Irwin in scenes filmed before his death.

Mr Irwin's former manager, John Stainton, said: "We'll never refer to the fact that Steve is no longer with us. The way that it works is that Steve plays co-star to Bindi. It's just the little reactions that she gives to her Dad who's, you know, doing sort of silly stuff."

"Bindi's an amazing little girl," said her grandfather, Bob Irwin. "She is a real professional. The thing about Bindi is, she seems to enjoy it."

Annie Howell, a spokeswoman for Discovery Kids, said: "Steve and Bindi were very enthusiastic about doing the show together."

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