American Influencer Sam Jones Leaves Australia After Outrage Over Baby Wombat Video- wna24

American influencer Sam Jones, who sparked widespread outrage after posting a video of herself grabbing a baby wombat and taking it away from its mother, has left Australia, according to a Reuters report.

Jones, who describes herself as an “outdoor enthusiast and hunter,” shared the now-deleted video on Instagram earlier this week from an undisclosed location in Australia. The footage showed her picking up the baby wombat—a protected marsupial species—despite the animal visibly struggling and hissing while its distressed mother followed behind. Looking into the camera, Jones stated, “I caught a baby wombat,” before placing it back on the road.

The incident ignited public fury, leading to online petitions condemning Jones’ “irresponsible and gruesome action,” with one petition demanding her deportation from Australia.

In response to the backlash, Jones deleted the video and made her Instagram account private. Her bio describes her as a wildlife biologist and environmental scientist with an MSc degree, based in Montana, US.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed Jones’ departure, remarking, “There’s never been a better day to be a wombat in Australia.”

He also revealed that authorities had reviewed her tourist visa and examined whether any immigration laws had been breached. “Given the level of scrutiny that will happen if she ever applies for a visa again, I’ll be surprised if she even bothers,” he added.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned Jones’ actions, stating, “To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress, is just an outrage.”

Mockingly, he suggested that Jones should “try some other Australian animals—take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.”