Sam Jones, known as Samantha Strable, garnered significant criticism on social media and from government officials before her departure.
US Influencer Faces Backlash for Wombat Snatching Incident Before Departing Australia
US Influencer Faces Backlash for Wombat Snatching Incident Before Departing Australia
A US influencer's controversial act of taking a baby wombat from its mother sparked outrage in Australia, prompting her to leave the country.
Sam Jones, the US influencer infamous for briefly snatching a baby wombat from its distressed mother, has left Australia amid a storm of public outrage. Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had indicated that her visa status was under review, but sources confirm that Jones departed voluntarily. "There has never been a better time to be a baby wombat," Burke quipped in a statement celebrating her exit.
The backlash erupted after Jones uploaded a video showing her taking the baby wombat from a roadside while laughing, with the distressed mother visibly upset. The footage, which captured the baby wombat hissing in distress, went viral and led to widespread condemnation from various officials. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labeled the incident an "outrage," while Foreign Minister Penny Wong deemed the video "dreadful."
Opposition leader Peter Dutton spoke against her actions, calling them "a cruel act" and expressing relief at her departure from the country. An online petition demanding her deportation attracted over 30,000 signatures, but since Jones had not faced any charges or posed a threat, legal grounds for visa cancellation were minimal.
In the wake of the outcry, Jones made her social media account private and removed the controversial post. In comments before her exit, she claimed the baby was held for just a minute and returned unharmed. However, wildlife experts criticized her actions as a "blatant disregard" for Australia's native wildlife. The Wombat Protection Society expressed shock at the incident, describing it as a ploy for social media attention.
Conservationists highlight that wombats, a legally protected species, share deep emotional bonds with their young, and separating them can be traumatic. Following her departure, a TikTok account purporting to be Jones emerged, alleging that the hate she received was overwhelming and mentioned "hundreds" of death threats.
While she attempted to convey her distress over the backlash, many online users remained unrelenting in their criticisms, comparing her actions to someone snatching a child. The incident has reignited conversations on wildlife protection and the ethical responsibilities of social media influencers.
