Terri Irwin ready to wrestle crocs like Steve IRWIN
LIFTING trophies has become a breeze for Steve Irwin's widow Terri.

But bulking up to do battle with the monster crocs her late husband once wrestled is the real prize this wildlife warrior has been eyeing.

While Terri and her daughter Bindi made an impressive show of girl power at the Daytime Emmy awards in the US, the mother-of-two's musclebound appearance stunned her fans.

With the Irwins at an eco-conference in San Diego yesterday, it was left to Terri's "handler" John Stainton to explain the animal activist's latest heavyweight look.

Despite always maintaining good physical fitness, Irwin has increased her daily routine in preparation for a research trip in far north Queensland next week, where she will be expected to tag more than 30 wild crocodiles.

Irwin is set to team with scientists from the University of Queensland and Parks and Wildlife officers in continuing the conservation work begun by her husband before his death in 2006.

"She's picking up where Steve left off and has to be physically fit to keep up with the boys," Stainton said.

"She's always been physically fit, but upped her daily routine to prepare for this trip in July (last year). Sometimes the crocs can be over 12ft (3.2m)."

Meanwhile, an excited Bindi is understood to have slept with her trophies after winning for her TV work in Bindi: The Jungle Girl. Her anti-whaling song Save Me also received an Emmy nomination for Most Outstanding Original Song. Bindi will celebrate her 10th birthday at Australia Zoo on July 24.