Sunday 13 November 2022 12:14 AM Steve Irwin's best mate Wes Mannion reveals the TRUTH behind his departure from ... trends now
Wes and Dominique are pictured together at the Steve Irwin Gala in LA in May 2019
Steve Irwin's best friend Wes Mannion has revealed he left Australia Zoo because 'it was time to move on' - and says his relationship with the Irwin family is better than ever.
The 52-year-old was a longtime friend of Irwins and ran the Queensland animal park for about 35 years before he mysteriously stepped down as director in July 2020 and handed the reins over to the crocodile hunter's widow, Terri.
His departure came without fanfare or explanation, and frustrated his eagle-eyed fans who noticed he was suddenly absent from the zoo's social media accounts.
False rumours started circulating claiming he was swiping money from the zoo, left in disgrace, and ruined his relationship with the Irwins.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, Mannion laughed and slapped down the rumours as 'ridiculous'.
'I'd be in jail if that was the case,' he said.
He explained that after being at the zoo for more than 35 years, it was just time to move on.
'That's just the way it goes, but we're all still great friends and I was just talking to them the other day,' he said.
When asked whether his relationship with the Irwins survived his departure from the zoo, he said: 'Yeah it's great, they're like my family.'
Last week, Daily Mail Australia revealed Mannion travelled to a desert in Arizona and married his long-term girlfriend Dominique Franks in April this year - after he became the director of her parents' Noosaville-based wildlife business, Hollow Log Homes.
Dominique Franks, Wes Mannion's new wife, is pictured outside the home they share wearing a shirt from their family wildlife business
Wes Mannion - who worked at Australia Zoo for more than three decades - is seen outside his Timbeerwah home, packing a 4WD for an overnight trip
She moved into his $1.1million love-nest in Tinbeerwah, north of the Sunshine Coast, which features a pool and cellar, four large bedrooms and bathrooms, and a shed with enough space for three cars and a boat.
Speaking with Daily Mail Australia, Dominique's father Alan Franks said the couple took over his company because he and his wife wanted to step down and were looking for young energy to take it to a new level.
'There was always a chance Dominique would take over the business because she had an interest, and it made sense that Wes would be a part of it, when he was free of obligation,' he said.
Hollow Log Homes was established 23 years ago and builds nesting boxes for wildlife struggling when their homes are destroyed by deforestation.
Mr Franks explained the company had grown beyond what he and his wife Stacey were able to
