Sam Jones, or Samantha Strable, is at the center of the storm after taking the baby wombat away from its distressed mother in Australia. The video, which was first posted on Instagram and later deleted, prompted mass outrage with calls for deportation and for the government to review her visa.
The now-deleted video sees Jones scoop the baby wombat off the road at night, with the mother wombat running frantically after it. The visibly distressed joey can be heard hissing in her hands as she excitedly shows it off to the camera. A man off-camera can be heard making comments and laughing at the mother’s pursuit.
“My wombat dream come true: Baby and mum made it back into the bush together at last, albeit at a slow pace!” But conservationists and animal campaigners were quick to challenge the manner in which the events were presented, pointing to the distress caused to the animals.
The clip soon went viral, and it stirred great criticism by animal rights organizations, conservationists, and the general public. Jones was criticized by many for exploiting wildlife for online fame, with the Wombat Protection Society condemning the act as “reckless and irresponsible.”
There was even an online petition for Jones to be deported, which was supported by over 31,000 people.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also weighed in on the scandal, calling Jones’ actions “outrageous” and with no concern for wildlife. In his damning remark, he said, “Try taking a baby crocodile away from its mother and see how you go there.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the visa of Jones was under review, and “Given the scrutiny that will be applied if ever she makes another application for a visa, I’ll be surprised if she even makes the effort.”
Wildlife experts and vets have also raised serious concerns about the implications for separating the baby wombat from its mother. Wildlife vet Dr. Tania Bishop explained that the joeys become attached to the mother, and sudden removal can lead to serious stress, abandonment, and even physical harm. “This isn’t just taking in this cute animal—this is intervening with a protected species in such a manner that’s traumatic to mother and baby,”
Suzanne Milthorpe, Head of Campaigns for World Animal Protection Australia, added, “Wombats are not toys or photo props. Kidnapping a screaming baby wombat from its mother is horrific, and it’s likely to be illegal under state or federal law.”
Jones defended herself against the criticism by explaining that she only held the joey in her hands for one minute before releasing it back to its mother in perfect condition. “I never catch wildlife that will be harmed by doing so,” she said before making her Instagram account private.
More video footage showed Jones with other Australian animals, including an echidna and small shark, further fueling the criticism. Jones voluntarily left Australia amidst the mounting pressure before immigration officials could make any formal moves against him.
The episode reignited the controversy about the ethical role played by social media influencers, particularly when interacting with animals. Experts say that the pursuit to go viral makes the influencers become reckless, putting themselves and the animals at risk.
Australia has the most stringent wildlife conservation laws in the world, with humans being strictly prohibited to touch or capture native wildlife unless they are professional handlers or the native wildlife is injured and needs to be cared for. The law is enforced to prevent harm to native wildlife and to prevent interfering with normal animal life.
