A memorial service for Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin at the Australia Zoo's "Crocoseum" drew a crowd of about 5,000 fans as millions saw it worldwide.

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An estimated 300 million people tuned into Wednesday's star-studded service on their televisions, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Irwin's wife, Terri, sat in the stands with the couple's two-year-old son, Bob, but did not address the crowd in Beerwah. She left that to her eight-year-old daughter, Bindi, who had the audience cheering when she spoke about her late father in a way that only a child can.

"My daddy was my hero -- he was always there for me when I needed him," she said. "We filmed together, caught crocodiles together, loved being in the bush together. I don't want daddy's passion ever to end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did."

Tributes to Irwin, killed by a stringray while diving 16 days ago, came from movie, music and television stars. Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Kevin Costner and Larry King offered video tributes.

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Prime Minister John Howard praised Irwin's "quality of being genuine, being authentic" and his "great zest for life."