Bindi Irwin pays sweet tribute to her late father Steve Irwin on the 16th anniversary of his death

Sunday marked 16 years since beloved Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin passed away.

To mark the emotional occasion Steve's daughter Bindi Irwin paid tribute to her father by sharing how his love for animals also lives through her 17-month-old daughter, Grace.

Taking to Instagram, Bindi opened up to her 4.9 million followers to share her heartfelt words alongside a snap of her and her dad on a late-night adventure as she proudly held a baby alligator.

Alongside the picture, the 24-year-old conservationist wrote: "Grandpa Crocodile, I know you would've been the most incredible grandfather because you were such an extraordinary dad. Thank you for being an amazing guardian angel for Grace."

Steve - who was also known as The Crocodile Hunter - died on September 4, 2006, after being struck by a deadly stingray barb while filming for one of his many TV shows off Port Douglas in North Queensland.

Bindi and her brother, Robert, who were just eight and two years old respectively when their famous father died, have worked tirelessly alongside Terri to honour their father's wildlife warrior legacy.