Influencer Flees Australia After Baby Wombat Scandal

An American hunting influencer sparked outrage in Australia when she filmed herself taking a baby wombat away from its mother. The video sparked a wave of criticism, legal investigations, and ultimately the young woman's departure from the country.

Sam Jones, originally from Montana, shared a video on Instagram showing her holding a baby wombat while the animal's mother follows her distraught in the background.

In the footage, the tiny marsupial squeals and hisses, while Jones laughingly comments, "I caught a baby wombat." The influencer then left the animal on the side of the road, but the damage was done: the clip went viral and sparked a furious backlash on social media.

Outrage was swift. RSPCA Australia condemned the act, noting the obvious suffering of both the baby wombat and its mother, calling the video a display of “blatant disdain” for local wildlife.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also harshly criticized Jones’s behavior, calling it “an indignity,” and ironically suggested the influencer try “taking a baby crocodile from its mother and see how it goes.”

As the controversy escalated, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that a review was underway to determine whether Jones had violated her visa conditions. Ultimately, the young woman, out of fear, left Australia on Friday morning, according to a government source cited by The Guardian.

Following the avalanche of criticism, Jones set her Instagram account to private and her TikTok profile disappeared. A new TikTok account later emerged claiming to be hers, posting a message apologizing and calling the act a “mistake.”

In another message, she expressed that the hate she received was “too much to handle” and revealed that she was shocked by the death threats she had received.