A touching cartoon of Steve Irwin happily welcoming Australian animals in heaven has gone widely viral on the internet.

Shared by Artist Sharnia-Mae Sturm, 22, the poignant illustration shows the late Crocodile Hunter greeting Koalas, Kangaroos, and other wildlife with open arms.

Posted on Instagram on New Year’s Eve as news of Australia’s bushfire crisis broke around the world, the image equally featured Irwin saying: ‘Don’t worry little guys. I will take care of you!’ 

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Artist Sharnia-Mae Sturm, 22 poignant illustration shows the late Crocodile Hunter greeting Koalas, Kangaroos, and other wildlife with open arms

sketchykoala -Via

Revealing her account (Ms. Sturm) became flooded with a huge volume of responses to the extent of deactivating, the post has, however, gone viral across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

Ms. Sturm account became flooded with a huge volume of responses to the extent of deactivating

sketchykoala -Via

‘Instagram has my sketchy_koala account deactivated because they believed I accumulated false likes and comments. I guess it’s from the outburst of people liking, sharing and commenting on my drawing’ Ms. Sturm wrote on her Sketchy Koala Facebook page.

She continued: ‘I am working on getting back online. Thank you all for your love and support.’

The Cartoon brought internet users to tears!

Gaining over 2.5million views, internet users revealed the cartoon brought them to tears. An Instagram user wrote: ‘Look at this. Just look! Let that sink in. I don’t have words, but sure have tears. So poignant, I urge anyone wanting to assist to donate.’

On Facebook, another user added: ‘An amazingly unhappy artwork reflecting on the bush fires across Australia. This one undoubtedly hit home to think of all the animals that are gone forever, now being taken to rest by Steve Irwin from above.’

The photo further captured the attention of Irwin’s daughter –Bindi, who also applauded Ms. Sturm in the comments. Nevertheless, Irwin passed away in September 2006 after being stabbed in the chest while filming a documentary in shallow waters at the Great Barrier Reef.