Derek Hough got a cuddly surprise from his Dancing With the Stars partner on their victory trip to Australia.
Derek Hough got a cuddly surprise from his Dancing With the Stars partner Bindi Irwin on their victory trip to Australia.
After the pair took home the mirror ball trophy as the champs of DWTS' 21st season, Derek headed down under for some rest and relaxation. During his trip he was greeted by a koala Bindi named after him.
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"This is your namesake!" Bindi, 17, said as Derek cradled the baby animal.
"It's one of the coolest things that's ever happened," the 30-year-old DWTS pro told ET. "To have an animal named after you is amazing."
Derek met his namesake and many more animals at the Australia Zoo in Queensland, Australia, which was founded by Bindi's grandparents, Bob and Lyn Irwin, in 1970. The zoo is currently owned by Bindi's mom, Terri.
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Bindi's mirror ball trophy win wasn't her only DWTS victory with the show. A Los Angeles judge has approved her DWTS contract worth a reported $350,000. Previously, the money had been held from the minor until the court had proof her father, Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin, was in fact deceased.
After her DWTS stint boosted her popularity, Bindi is fielding many offers that could mean more screen time for the teenager, but she's not forgetting her roots.
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"We have a few projects all over the place on the horizon, so I'm excited about that and we'll see where life takes me," Bindi said. "But for me, my heart will always lie in conservation and wildlife work. As long as I'm doing that, I'll be happy."