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Is Bindi Irwin trying to 'save' Australia Zoo?Teen 'joined Dancing With The Stars to raise money for the park and protect late father Steve's legacy'

By Jennifer Smith For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 19:06 EST, 18 October 2015 | Updated: 20:26 EST, 18 October 2015

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She's a favourite to win the show after dazzling viewers with stellar performances every week.

But Bindi Irwin joined Dancing With The Stars with a different ambition - to raise money for her father's zoo, it has been claimed.

Australia Zoo, which suffered financial difficulty four years ago, has been forced to deny a report claiming that the 17-year-old signed on to the CBS show to save it from financial ruin, insisting her decision was 'personal'.

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Hardworking: Bindi Irwin (seen above leaving the Dancing With The Stars rehearsal studio ) is said to have joined the show in the hope of raising money for her father's zoo

Claiming that it is enjoying increased ticket sales alongside the rest of the tourism industry, a spokesman for the site said any suggestion that it was struggling to stay afloat was 'simply untrue'.

It comes after a report published in New Idea magazine which alleged that Bindi was facing pressure to boost revenue at the Beerwah attraction.

Sources claimed to the publication that the youngster had begun pursuing a show business career in a bid to raise its profile.

Admitting that her appearance on the U.S. hit show had brought 'amazing exposure' to their conservation efforts, a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia: 'The claims that Australia Zoo is struggling to stay afloat financially are simply not true, on the contrary in fact.

Legacy: Bindi (seen above in 2002 when she was just four with her parents) continues to promote the zoo as she appears on the US show

'By all accounts tourism in Australia and the Sunshine Coast are up on previous years and similarly, the Zoo is seeing increased visitation.

Bindi is loving her personal experience on Dancing with the Stars and her journey is generating amazing exposure for Australia and Queensland.'

Earlier a source claimed that the teen had fallen under pressure to fulfill her father's ambitious plans for the site.

'The reason Bindi's slogging her guts out in that dance studio is so she can save the family zoo,' they claimed.

Carrying on his work: Bindi (seen above at a memorial service held for her father after his death in 2006) is a patron for the zoo

Its former curator, Bruce Murdock added the youngster had fallen under pressure to carry out her father's plans for the site.

'Steve had a lot of dreams. But they were massive dreams that only he could fund.

'They are trying to do it on the back of Bindi and Terri but I don't think they can support it,' he told the magazine.

Positive: Bindi, who appears in high spirits every time she leaves the rehearsal studio, is among fans' favourites on the show

In 2011, 22 key members of staff were forced to leave their jobs following a spate of volatile weather which, bosses said, had a detrimental effect on its business.

At the time Bindi's mother Terri insisted she had no intention of closing its doors, determined to save the place her late husband had worked tirelessly to maintain since childhood. 'I have absolutely no intention of closing Australia Zoo,’ she told ABC.

‘Again, our wildlife hospital is running, our wildlife experiences are continuing, and we fund our conservation projects with people who come into Australia Zoo.

Devoted: Terri Irwin said earlier this week she had already had her 'happily ever after' with her late husband

'Nothing has closed. Nothing will close.’

Former staff however claimed at the time that if more was not done to boost profits, the zoo would 'go down'.

Bindi has made frequent reference to her father and his legacy during her time on the show, dedicating some of her performances to the late conservationist.

Steve Irwin died in 2006 in Batt Reef, Port Douglas. He is buried on site at Australia Zoo.