Influencer Under Fire For Taking Baby Wombat From Its Mother In Australia
Every so often, a short video online can spark a huge reaction - especially when it involves wildlife. That’s exactly what happened recently when a clip of an American influencer grabbing a baby wombat off the side of an Australian road went viral, setting off a wave of criticism and calls for consequences.
In the footage, Sam Jones, who describes herself on social media as an “outdoor enthusiast and hunter,” spots a tiny wombat cub beside its mother. Without hesitation, she swoops in, scoops up the distressed marsupial, and carries it over to a nearby car.
The cub’s high‑pitched cries fill the air as its mother frantically chases after them. A man off-camera laughs and says, “Look at the mother; it’s chasing after her!” After a few tense seconds, Jones releases the baby, and both wombats slowly shuffle back into the bush.
Jones later captioned her TikTok post: “My dream of holding a wombat has been realized! Baby and mom slowly waddled back off together into the bush.” But the clip quickly drew outrage, with viewers accusing her of needlessly frightening a wild animal and interfering with its mother. Despite Jones making her accounts private, the video spread rapidly, and anger only grew louder.
"American hunting influencer Sam Jones is facing fierce backlash after taking a baby wombat from its mother while visiting Australia. "
An online petition demanding that Australia ban Jones from the country has already surpassed 26,000 signatures. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly condemned her actions at a press conference, calling it “an outrage” to separate a baby wombat from its mother and visibly distress the adult animal.
He quipped directly to Jones: “Maybe next time try taking on an animal that can fight back — take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.”The fallout didn’t stop there. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that immigration officials are reviewing Jones’s visa status. “Given the level of scrutiny she’ll face if she ever applies again, I’d be surprised if she even bothers,” Burke said. “I can’t wait for Australia to see the back of this individual — I don’t expect she’ll return.”
"PM Albanese lets rip on the “so-called influencer” who took a baby wombat from its mother. PM “maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother & see how you go there.”"
News outlets around Australia covered the incident extensively, comparing it to other notable discoveries in the country — from a “giant” dinosaur spider fossil found by scientists to the largest golden nugget ever unearthed on Australian soil. Yet none of those stories generated the same wave of condemnation as the wombat video.
Wildlife experts say that even brief handling by humans can cause significant stress for native animals, especially young ones that rely on their mothers for protection and nourishment. Interfering with wildlife can also put both humans and animals at risk: a frightened mother might react aggressively, and a cub separated from its mother could struggle to survive.
Australia’s strict wildlife protection laws reflect these concerns. Removing native animals from their natural environment without a permit is illegal and can carry hefty fines. Whether Jones will face legal consequences remains unclear, but public sentiment is overwhelmingly against her.
Social media users have flooded comment sections with calls for accountability, ranging from formal charges to permanent deportation.
As of now, Sam Jones has not publicly responded to the backlash beyond setting her accounts to private. However, the incident has reignited a broader conversation about responsible behavior around wildlife and the power (and peril) of sharing impulsive moments online.
