American Influencer Criticized for Handling Baby Wombat in Viral Video

Sam Jones faces backlash and scrutiny after separating a joey from its mother and raising concerns about Australian wildlife policies.

Sam Jones, an American influencer with nearly 100,000 followers, posted a now-deleted video showing her picking up a baby wombat and running away from its mother.
The video, which depicted the distressed animal and its pacing mother, drew widespread criticism from social media users, animal advocates, and Australian officials.
Jones defended her actions, claiming she acted out of concern for the joey's safety, believing it might be injured or at risk of being hit by a vehicle.
Australian authorities are investigating the incident, including Jones' visa status, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned her actions as harmful and inappropriate.
In response to the backlash, Jones accused the Australian government of hypocrisy, alleging that it permits large-scale culling of native animals, including wombats and kangaroos.