Widow of Famous Conservationist Killed by Snake Bite Says He'd Want Her to 'Live Each Day Like a Gift' (Exclusive)

“He loved showing off how amazing these animals were and getting people to appreciate and respect them," the widow of Graham "Dingo" Dinkelman tells PEOPLE

• Graham "Dingo" Dinkelman, 44, a wildlife conservationist, died on Saturday, Oct. 26, after a venomous snake bit him one month earlier at his family's home in South Africa

• Kirsty Dinkelman, Dingo's wife, tells PEOPLE about her late husband's love for wildlife and his family

• “We are trying our best to pull together and help each other through. We take things one day at a time," Kirsty says of how her family is coping since Dingo's death

The wife of a South African wildlife conservationist and popular YouTuber who died in October after a venomous snake bit him is remembering her husband's enthusiasm and passion in everything he did.

“He had an incredible gift when it came to animals; he was a wonderfully talented handler and was able to read and understand them like nobody else I have ever seen,” Kirsty Dinkelman, 38, says of her late spouse Graham “Dingo" Dinkelman, in an email interview with PEOPLE on Wednesday, Nov. 13.  “His catchphrase was ‘Educate. Inspire. Protect’ — words that he lived each and every day by.”

Commonly referred to as "South Africa's Steve Irwin," Dingo, 44, was doing routine cleaning in the snake room at the family’s home in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, on Thursday, Sept. 26, when he was bitten by the snake, Kirsty says.

Related: Daughter of YouTuber Dubbed 'South Africa's Steve Irwin' Shares Emotional Tribute After His Death: 'You Were My Hero'

In an Instagram post shared four days after the incident, Kirsty wrote that the venomous bite sent Dingo into anaphylactic shock. He was rushed to the hospital, placed on a ventilator and put in a medically-induced coma.

A month later, Kirsty announced in a statement that Dingo had died on Saturday, Oct. 26.

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“Dingo fought incredibly hard throughout this very difficult period,” Kirsty wrote at the time. “We know that he was fighting to be here with us and we are so grateful for this. Sadly, despite his strength and resilience, my beloved husband passed away peacefully today, surrounded by his family.”

Dingo was in critical condition after he was admitted to the hospital, Kirsty later recalls to PEOPLE.

“The doctors warned us that it would be a very difficult and long road ahead,” she recalls. “We are so grateful that he fought so hard, and every day that we could go in and visit him gave us extra time to be with him and thank him for the incredible lives he has given us.”

At the time of his death, Dingo was a popular presence on social media with 648,000 followers on Instagram, 18,000 followers on Tiktok and 118,000 subscribers on YouTube. Photos and clips from those platforms depict him interacting with such animals as snakes, crocodiles and even a giraffe.

“He had such an amazing presence on-camera, that I think his audience couldn’t help but fall in love with him,” Kirsty says of her husband’s appeal. “His passion and enthusiasm as well as his authenticity drew people in and brightened up their days and kept them coming back for the next adventure! I also think that the fact that he was so talented at handling such incredibly dangerous animals, had a big appeal for people.”

Related: Wife of YouTuber Who Died 1 Month After Being Bitten by Venomous Snake Pens Emotional Tribute: ‘We Love You’

She adds that Dingo loved educating people about wildlife. “He was definitely known for his work with reptiles, but he had an incredibly special place in his heart for many other animals too, his favourites being African elephants, rhinos and lions,” Kirsty says. “He loved showing off how amazing these animals were and getting people to appreciate and respect them.”

Kirsty says she first met Dingo in 2000 at church. They got engaged in 2008 and married the following year. The couple shared three children: Taylor, 14, Maddy, 12, and Rex, 9.

“Dingo was one of a kind,” Kirsty says. “He passionately moved through life at a rapid pace, always highly motivated to achieve his dreams and change the world around him for the better. Family were at the centre of his priorities and we were so fortunate to have him as the warm loving husband and father that he was to us. His children absolutely adored him, as he did them, and we are so grateful for the time that we were able to share with him.”

A fond memory that Kirsty has of Dingo involves the couple taking their children out of school and having them homeschooled so that they could take part in animal adventures with their parents.

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“What an incredible decision that was,” she says. “We were able to have close-up experiences with many amazing animals, such as recently being able to work closely with wild lions, which was an unforgettable experience being able to be so close to such magnificent wild creatures.”

A memorial was held for Dingo and attended by his loved ones and supporters.

“We know that Dingo would not want our family to give up,” says Kirsty. “He would want us to keep going, to be strong and to live each day like the gift and privilege that it is. We will try our best to continue to teach people to love animals and to keep his memory and dreams alive.”

Of how she and her family are coping following Dingo’s death, Kirsty says: “We are trying our best to pull together and help each other through. We take things one day at a time. Dingo was such a strong man, so we are trying to be strong for him.”

She also expresses gratitude to Dingo’s fans from around the world for their messages of love and support.

As for her late husband’s legacy, Kirsty says: “I would like people to remember him for his ability to inspire and ignite passion in people from all over the world. For his unsurpassed strength and bravery. For his incredible generosity and warmth. For his wicked sense of humour and deep adoration for his family. For being a man of God and an incredible husband and father.”