American influencer Sam Jones, also known as Samantha Strable, has left Australia after facing widespread condemnation for briefly taking a baby wombat from its distressed mother and posting the video online.
The footage, which showed Jones laughing and running with the joey while it hissed in distress, sparked outrage, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling it an “outrage” and Foreign Minister Penny Wong labelling it “dreadful.”
Despite calls for her deportation, Jones left voluntarily before the government could act on reviewing her visa.
Wildlife experts and conservation groups condemned her actions as a reckless stunt for social media attention, emphasizing the distress such separations cause to native animals.
SCUMBAG OF THE DAY
Sam Jones is a US hunting influencer who has gone viral for posting a tiktok of her taking a baby wombat away from its mother in the middle of the night as a joke…for a bit of fun.
Please Sign The Petition at https://t.co/TJGIq2orzj via @UKChange. pic.twitter.com/aZNVd5gt5Q
— PROTECT ALL WILDLIFE (@Protect_Wldlife) March 12, 2025
