Bob Irwin explains his departure from Australia Zoo

Melbourne, April 3 : The father of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin has opened up about his much publicised departure from Australia Zoo.

In an exclusive interview to be aired on ABC's Australian Story, Bob Irwin, revealed that he left the zoo because he was becoming a 'disrupting influence.'

Last month Bob walked away from the Queensland zoo that he founded 36 years ago, and which Steve made into an international drawcard.

According to media reports, the 68-year-old decided to leave because he was upset with the direction of the Sunshine Coast-based zoo and the career of Steve's 9-year-old daughter Bindi.

"There's been a lot of media coverage recently of my departure from Australia Zoo," News.com.au quoted Bob, as saying.

"It's a strange feeling to spend half your lifetime building something up and walking away from it.

"I was becoming a disrupting influence, not that I meant to be," he added.

Steve's widow Terri has previously tried to dampen speculation that her father-in-law left the park because of a personal rift.

"I just can assure everyone that I love Bob dearly ... he's gone through so much grief losing his (first) wife and his only son that I will respectfully just leave it at that," Terri said.

Terri has also revealed plans of a five-year expansion of the zoo to make it Australia's peak tourist destination with a 'Disneyland feel', as well as adding luxury accommodation and boosting staff.

She has dismissed rumours that the family is planning to sell the zoo and moving back to the US.

ANI