An American social media influencer sparked huge criticism when she posted video footage showing her grabbing a baby wombat directly from its mother.
The public together with Australian government officials expressed their anger when the disturbing video surfaced.
The video showed Sam Jones from Montana humorously presenting the confused and scared joey to her viewers through her camera.
She can be heard excitedly saying, “I caught a baby wombat!” Wildlife experts confirm that the hissing sound from the animal signals clear signs of its fear condition.
Social media users shared the video harshly criticizing the woman for her what they viewed as blameless and cruel behavior.
People debated whether Jones understood her destructive behavior at the time or whether she used the animals to gain online viewership.
Annimal welfare supporters rushed into action to explain why disrupting native wildlife creates severe risks.
“Wombats are highly protective of their young, and separating them can cause extreme distress and long-term harm,” said Dr. Chris Weston, an Australian wildlife biologist.
More citizens grew aggravated by the situation so they demanded authorities take measures against the influencer by enforcing accountability.
Credit: (Youtube/ABC News (Australia) )
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia engaged in the public dispute to denounce Jones’ actions and reject her behavior.
“To take a baby wombat from its mother and clearly cause distress is just an outrage,” Albanese said during a press conference.
He further mocked her actions, sarcastically stating, “Try taking another animal that can actually fight back—see how you go there.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong echoed his disapproval, calling the footage “pretty dreadful” and advising Jones to “leave the wombat alone.”
Wildlife experts maintained their position that wombats remain wild animals that should never be touched casually by people.
“If you come across a baby wombat in the wild, the best thing to do is observe from a distance and call local wildlife services if needed,” said conservationist Emma Rogers.
Platforms for social media provided Jones with the chance to post an explanation about her behavior as public criticism increased.
The woman stated she discovered both the wombat mother and her joey while they were on a road before stopping to protect them from cars.
The joey demonstrated no signs of anxiety after I approached because I worried about its health condition.
The female swore she wanted to neither harm nor steal the animal thus she carried the creature because she feared its mother would attack.
“I immediately returned the joey to its mother and ensured they got off the road safely,” she added.
The apology from Jones did not stop the public from questioning her authenticity because people remained unconvinced by her explanation regarding the video recording of the animal.
Wildlife organizations criticized her explanation because they emphasized how handling wild wombats under any circumstances can produce severe detrimental results.
Reports appeared that Jones departed Australia during the middle of the incident.
Media sources indicate Jones departed from Australia even though she has not officially disclosed the reason for her departure.
Credit: (Instagram/samstrays_somewhere)
The online dispute caused people to analyze the moral dilemma regarding wildlife relationships from influencers and highlight the risks of engaging animals for social media activities.
The authorities warned citizens that meddling with native species without authorized permission could trigger substantial fines and possible legal prosecutions.
Jones’ actions created extensive scrutiny about wildlife conservation as the legal fate of her activities remains uncertain.
The strict animal protection laws of this nation warn people through this incident to show proper respect for nature.
Jones has become a part of one of the most notorious wildlife scandal stories in modern times.
Feature Image Credit: (Youtube/ABC News (Australia) ) (Instagram/samstrays_somewhere) and (Instagram/albomp)