An influencer's misguided stunt with a baby wombat raises questions about respect for wildlife.
US Influencer Faces Backlash After Snatching Baby Wombat in Australia
US Influencer Faces Backlash After Snatching Baby Wombat in Australia
Controversy erupts as Sam Jones leaves Australia following outrage over wildlife incident.
In a recent event that stirred significant backlash in Australia, US influencer Sam Jones, also known as Samantha Strable, has left the country after a controversial video emerged showing her briefly taking a baby wombat from its vulnerable mother. Despite the Australian government's review of her visa status, it's reported that Jones departed voluntarily.
Jones shared the footage on social media, which depicted her laughing while she snatched the baby wombat from the roadside, drawing anger from animal rights advocates and government officials alike. Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke commented positively on her exit, stating, "There has never been a better time to be a baby wombat."
The incident ignited outrage across the country, with politicians including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing strong disapproval of Jones's actions. "It's an outrage," Albanese remarked, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the video as "dreadful." Opposition leader Peter Dutton condemned the act as cruel, stating he was pleased to see her leave Australia.
Jones, who has amassed nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter," has since made her account private and deleted the offending video. Despite her claims that the baby wombat was "carefully held for one minute" and returned unscathed, wildlife experts have condemned her actions as reckless and harmful.
The Wombat Protection Society expressed disbelief at the "mishandling" of the joey for social media likes, emphasizing the creature's strong maternal bond, which makes such separations traumatic. Suzanne Milthorpe from World Animal Protection Australia described it as unacceptable content creation, stating the joey might have perceived Jones as a predator.
Following the incident, an online petition demanding her deportation has garnered over 30,000 signatures. However, as Jones faced no charges, the Australian government had limited legal grounds for visa cancellation. In a post from a new TikTok account, Jones expressed distress over the "hate" she received, mentioning numerous death threats and pleading for empathy.
As public outrage continues, many have urged her to reconsider the impact of her actions, highlighting the necessity for respect towards wildlife and their habitats.
Jones shared the footage on social media, which depicted her laughing while she snatched the baby wombat from the roadside, drawing anger from animal rights advocates and government officials alike. Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke commented positively on her exit, stating, "There has never been a better time to be a baby wombat."
The incident ignited outrage across the country, with politicians including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing strong disapproval of Jones's actions. "It's an outrage," Albanese remarked, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the video as "dreadful." Opposition leader Peter Dutton condemned the act as cruel, stating he was pleased to see her leave Australia.
Jones, who has amassed nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter," has since made her account private and deleted the offending video. Despite her claims that the baby wombat was "carefully held for one minute" and returned unscathed, wildlife experts have condemned her actions as reckless and harmful.
The Wombat Protection Society expressed disbelief at the "mishandling" of the joey for social media likes, emphasizing the creature's strong maternal bond, which makes such separations traumatic. Suzanne Milthorpe from World Animal Protection Australia described it as unacceptable content creation, stating the joey might have perceived Jones as a predator.
Following the incident, an online petition demanding her deportation has garnered over 30,000 signatures. However, as Jones faced no charges, the Australian government had limited legal grounds for visa cancellation. In a post from a new TikTok account, Jones expressed distress over the "hate" she received, mentioning numerous death threats and pleading for empathy.
As public outrage continues, many have urged her to reconsider the impact of her actions, highlighting the necessity for respect towards wildlife and their habitats.
