Honestly, it takes a lot to get the Prime Minister of a whole country to personally call you out, but that is exactly where we are. This week, the internet basically exploded over a video of a Montana-based creator and a joey. We’re talking about the American influencer baby wombat situation that has everyone from wildlife experts to casual scrollers feeling a mix of rage and disbelief.
The footage is honestly hard to watch if you like animals.
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What Actually Happened with the Wombat Video?
It started when Sam Jones, an outdoor influencer who usually posts about hunting and "strays" around the world, shared a clip to her nearly 100,000 Instagram followers. In the video, she isn't just looking at wildlife. She’s actively chasing down a wild baby wombat—known as a joey—while its mother is standing right there.
She grabs the little guy. He hisses. He screeches. It’s loud.
Jones then runs toward her car, holding the joey by its front legs, and shouts to the camera, "I caught a baby wombat!" Meanwhile, you can see the mother wombat in the background looking absolutely frantic. Even in the video, Jones acknowledges it, saying, "Momma's right there and she is pissed."
She eventually put the baby back, but by then, the damage was done. The internet doesn't forget.
Why This Isn't Just "A Mistake"
People are mad for a reason. First off, wombats might look like cute, chubby potatoes, but they are wild animals. Grabbing them by their limbs like that can cause serious physical damage to their tendons and spine.
Tania Bishop, a vet with the wildlife rescue group WIRES, pointed out that this kind of handling is basically a recipe for injury.
"Removing a joey from their mother is extremely distressing and any separation is harmful." — Dr. Di Evans, RSPCA Australia.
But it’s more than just the physical side. In Australia, all native wildlife is protected. You can't just go around "snatching" animals for the 'gram. The legal side of this got so messy that the Australian government actually started reviewing Sam Jones's visa. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke didn't mince words, saying he "couldn't wait to see the back" of her.
The Viral Backlash and the Response
The "so-called influencer"—as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called her—didn't stay quiet for long. After the video went viral and the death threats started rolling in, she took it down and set her account to private.
Eventually, she posted an apology. She claimed she was "truly sorry" and that her "snap judgment" was actually born out of concern. Her side of the story? She thought the wombats were in danger of being hit by a car on the road and was trying to help them get to safety.
She also pointed out what she sees as hypocrisy. Jones argued that thousands of wombats are legally culled or poisoned in Australia every year without this kind of public outcry.
Does that justify picking one up for a video? Most people say no.
Key Details Most People Miss:
- The Species: This was likely a common bare-nosed wombat. While they aren't endangered, they are strictly protected by law.
- The Location: The exact spot remains unknown, but it appears to be a rural road in southeastern Australia.
- The Exit: Jones didn't wait around for her visa to be canceled. She voluntarily hopped on a flight back to the U.S. on Friday.
The Reality of "Wildlife Tourism"
This whole American influencer baby wombat mess highlights a bigger problem in social media culture. There is this constant pressure to get closer, be more "raw," and show things nobody else has seen.
But wild animals aren't props.
If you're traveling and want to see these creatures without getting deported or yelled at by a Prime Minister, there are ways to do it. Licensed sanctuaries like the Ballarat Wildlife Park or the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary allow for controlled interactions that don't involve chasing mothers away from their babies.
Honestly, if you see a wombat in the wild, the best thing you can do is give it space. A lot of it.
Actionable Steps for Ethical Wildlife Content
If you're a creator or just someone who loves animals, here is how to avoid a total PR disaster and actually help wildlife:
- Follow the 50-Foot Rule: If an animal changes its behavior because you are there, you are too close.
- Verify Local Laws: In Australia, it is an offense to harm or even "disturb" protected wildlife without a license. This includes picking them up.
- Check for Injuries First: If you genuinely think an animal is hurt (like Jones claimed), call a local rescue like WIRES (1300 094 737) instead of grabbing it for a photo op.
- Tag Responsibly: If you visit a sanctuary, make sure to tag them so people know the interaction was supervised and legal.
The main takeaway here is pretty simple. Leave the wildlife alone. The "clout" from a 15-second reel isn't worth a lifetime ban from a country or the distress of a mother animal and her joey.
If you want to support wombat conservation the right way, you can look into organizations like the Wombat Protection Society of Australia. They deal with real issues like mange and habitat loss—things that actually matter way more than a viral video.