The incident, which the woman shared in a now-deleted video, drew outrage from conservationists, as well as the country’s prime minister, with some calling for deportation.
U.S. Influencer Criticized for Snatching Baby Wombat in Australia
A U.S. influencer has come under fire in Australia for a video in which she appears to snatch a baby wombat from its mother, causing widespread outrage, including from the country’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.
Sam Jones, who has more than 91,000 followers on Instagram, posted a now-deleted video in which she can be seen taking a baby wombat from the side of an unidentified road. The mother wombat is seen chasing after her as Jones runs toward a car. A man can be heard laughing in the background. Jones eventually released the distressed baby wombat, which hissed and screeched in her arms, back onto the road, but it remains unclear if it reunited with its mother.
Jones’ actions sparked outrage across Australia, particularly among conservationists and animal rights groups. Prime Minister Albanese condemned the incident, calling it “an outrage” and suggesting the influencer should try taking a baby crocodile from its mother instead.
In response to the incident, over 18,000 people signed a petition calling for Jones’ deportation and a ban on her returning to Australia. The petition emphasized that tampering with Australia’s wildlife is not acceptable and that wombats are legally protected animals.
Wombats, which are native to Australia, are known for their gentle nature and can grow up to 50 inches in length, weighing as much as 80 pounds. It is illegal to harm or disturb a wombat without a license from the authorities.
The Wombat Protection Society of Australia expressed “shock and concern” over the video, stressing the risk of the baby wombat becoming roadkill after being released. They highlighted that the baby was highly dependent on its mother, and prolonged separation could have fatal consequences.
Animal rights groups, including World Animal Protection Australia, criticized Jones’ actions as “cruelty for the sake of cheap content” and called for the maximum penalties if she violated the law.
In her defense, Jones claimed she carefully held the wombat for a minute before releasing it and insisted that the animals were unharmed. However, her Instagram account was made private following the backlash.
Authorities are now reviewing Jones’ visa status and whether she violated Australian immigration laws. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that, given the level of scrutiny she will face in future visa applications, he doubts she will return to Australia.
The incident has sparked a wider debate about the ethics of filming and exploiting wildlife for social media content, especially when it involves endangering animals for entertainment.