Sam Jones has since released a statement explaining why she picked up the baby wombat
Officials have revealed that an influencer shown in a viral video snatching a baby wombat from its mother has left Australia.
Montana-based content creator Sam Jones, also known as Samantha Strable, found herself facing national backlash after what seemed like a harmless viral stunt turned into a major misstep.
In a video that quickly gained attention, Jones laughed as she picked up a baby wombat from the side of the road, running towards her vehicle while the joey’s frantic mother chased after them. Holding the visibly distressed animal up to the camera, Jones grinned and exclaimed, “I caught a baby wombat!”
Though she appeared to be aware things weren’t going as planned, with the wombat making loud hissing noises—a clear sign of distress—Jones continued the stunt. Realizing the situation was escalating, she eventually released the joey, saying, “OK, mom is right there… and she is p**sed. Alright, let’s let him go.” She later clarified that she had picked up the joey because she thought it was sick and returned it to its mother as soon as she realized her mistake.
However, once the video went viral, it sparked outrage across the internet. Politicians quickly joined the conversation, making it clear that Jones was no longer welcome in the country.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t hold back in condemning Jones’ actions, calling the stunt an “outrage.” He made a biting remark, saying: “Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back, rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother.”
As the video spread like wildfire across social media, the Australian federal government took swift action, moving to deport Jones for allegedly violating the country’s biosecurity and animal welfare laws. Despite the mounting pressure, Jones ultimately left Australia on her own accord.
Minister Tony Burke couldn’t resist a lighthearted jab, telling The Daily Mail, “There’s never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia.”
However, it remains unclear whether the government had sufficient grounds to revoke Jones’ visa, as she had neither been charged with a crime nor deemed a national security threat. At the time, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke expressed his frustration, stating, “Either way, given the level of scrutiny that will happen if she ever applies for a visa again, I’ll be surprised if she even bothers. I can’t wait for Australia to see the back of this individual. I don’t expect she will return.”
In response, Jones defended her actions in a lengthy Instagram post, explaining, “I was concerned it may have been sick or injured and made a snap judgment to pick up the joey and see if this was the case.”
She continued, “I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me. The snap judgment I made in these moments was never from a place of harm or stealing a joey.”
While admitting that her excitement to see such a unique animal led to a rushed decision, she stressed that she immediately returned the joey to its mother once she assessed it.
Jones acknowledged that “I did not handle this situation as best as I should have,” expressing genuine regret for the distress caused. She also insisted, “This was never about social media or getting likes.”
