Immigration officials in Australia are reviewing the visa of American influencer Sam Jones after she posted a video of herself grabbing a baby wombat from his mother.
The now-deleted Instagram video showed Jones catching the baby on the side of a road. She then carries the scared animal to a car while a man is laughing and filming: “Look at the mother, it’s like chasing after her.” The act has sparked outrage online and among animal welfare groups.
“Laughing while running away with a mother’s child. She (Jones) has a habit of abusing and killing animals, so I’m not shocked to see her has zero respect for animals,” animal rights activist Ron Banks said.
“There is something seriously wrong with some humans – to not have any compassion or consideration toward a mother and child like this. Taking someone’s child is not a joke. Shame on the both of you. If you don’t respect nature, you don’t deserve to be in it,” Australian animal rights activist Leah Doellinger said.
Jones, who calls herself an “outdoor enthusiast, hunter, wildlife biologist and environmental scientist,” is facing backlash for her actions.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident an “outrage.” He suggested that she should try taking a baby crocodile next time.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said authorities are investigating whether Jones broke any immigration laws. He also suggested she is unlikely to be allowed back into Australia.
Baby wombat distressed
Wildlife experts have condemned the video, saying the way Jones handled the baby wombat could have caused serious injury. Veterinarian Tania Bishop said the joey was clearly distressed and called the video “absolutely horrifying.”
Wombats are nocturnal marsupials native to Australia. Baby wombats, called joeys, are born tiny and undeveloped, spending about 6–7 months in their mother’s backward-facing pouch for protection.
They begin exploring outside at 7–10 months but stay close to their mother until they become independent at 12–15 months.
Handling joeys can cause extreme stress and even physical harm, as their bodies are still developing. Wombats are protected under Australian law, and separating a baby from its mother without proper authorization is considered animal cruelty.
Support animal journalism
The Animal Reader is an independent animal news platform based in the Netherlands. We share daily updates about animal-related issues.
