American influencer apologizes for snatching baby wombat in Australia
- An American influencer, Sam Jones, faced backlash after a video surfaced of her taking a baby wombat from its mother in Australia.
- Jones claimed her actions were motivated by concern for the animal's welfare and expressed regret over the incident.
- Authorities are investigating whether Jones breached visa terms, highlighting the importance of respecting wildlife regulations.
In early March 2025, an American influencer, Sam Jones, sparked outrage when she posted a video on her Instagram account showing herself taking a baby wombat from its mother in Australia. The incident occurred at night on a roadside, raising immediate concern regarding animal welfare. In her video, Jones could be seen running while holding the wombat joey, with the distressed mother pursuing her. This act caught the attention of Australian authorities, who initiated an investigation into whether Jones had violated her visa terms and threatened potential deportation. Following public backlash, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized the video, labeling it 'an outrage' and asserting that it was distressing to see a peaceful and slow-moving animal being handled in such a way. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke added that there had never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia, implying the significance of the incident and its repercussions on Jones’s status in the country. Jones claimed her intentions were rooted in concern for the young animal's safety after discovering the wombats unresponsive on the road, and she explained her actions in a series of Instagram posts after the outcry. In her statements, Jones expressed remorse and clarified that her decision to pick up the joey was made out of fear the animal might be sick or in danger. She indicated that she initially did not intend to harm the wombat, narrating that her actions were misrepresented and misunderstood by the public. Throughout her reflections, she acknowledged that her response was not appropriate and recognized the emotional distress that her actions caused both to the animals involved and to the audience that watched the video. Animal welfare experts noted that interactions such as these could cause stress to both the joey and its mother, emphasizing the impacts of disturbing wildlife in their natural habitat. As of the time of this incident, there were discussions amongst wildlife conservationists about the necessity of educating the public regarding the proper way to handle wildlife encounters. Jones’s video has since been deleted from her Instagram account, but the impact of her actions continues to resonate, fueling debates over the treatment of Australian native animals and the responsibilities of visitors in wildlife-rich environments.