Robert Irwin gets dangerously close to Monty the crocodile at Australia Zoo

Robert Irwin is following in the footsteps of his late father, Steve ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ Irwin, by getting up close and personal with the fearsome Australian reptile.

But the 17-year-old wildlife photographer appeared to underestimate Monty the crocodile during a recent performance at Australia Zoo in Queensland.

Footage from the Crocoseum show shows Robert feeding Monty, alongside his mother, Terri Irwin, and brother-in-law, Chandler Powell.

Better watch out! Robert Irwin is following in the footsteps of his late father, Steve ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ Irwin, by getting up close and personal with the fearsome Australian reptile 

He decides at one point to lay down in front of the animal, saying in the clip: ‘I reckon I could even lay down in front of him.’

But Monty stares him with intent and Robert jumps back up, adding: ‘Yeah, not for very long.’

Robert later throws a piece of meat tied to the end of a rope into Monty’s mouth, then ushers the beast into different directions by pulling.

‘I reckon I could lay down in front of him’: The photographer, 17, appeared to underestimate Monty the crocodile during a recent performance at Australia Zoo in Queensland

Terri explains to the audience that this motion ‘simulate[s] a struggling animal’.

She adds that Monty loves this ‘tug of war’ game with the crocodile trainers because he ‘usually wins’. 

Robert continues to pull on the rope before Monty abruptly tears off the chunk of meat, making the teen awkwardly tumble into the pool behind him.

Tug of war: Robert throws a piece of meat tied to the end of a rope into Monty’s mouth, then ushers the beast into different directions by pulling

‘Bye, Robert,’ Terri jokes in the background. 

The video the shows Robert walking out of the pool with a smile on his face and saying Monty has now ‘got his lunch’.

‘He almost got dessert too with a little cherry on top,’ his mother responds.

Steve Irwin, who died in 2006, was known for pulling similar theatrics at Australia Zoo, and it seems his son has inherited his fondness for danger. 

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree: Steve Irwin, who died in 2006, was known for pulling similar theatrics at Australia Zoo, and it seems his son has inherited his fondness for danger

He’s alright! Robert fell backwards into a pool after the crocodile pulled off the chunk of meat