March 14, 2025, 9:24 am | Read time: 3 minutes
A shocking video is causing fury not only in Australia. A US influencer kidnaps a baby wombat in the presence of its mother while laughing out loud — all for an Instagram video. Animal rights activists sounded the alarm, politicians were outraged, and the Prime Minister had strong words. Is she now facing imprisonment and a visa ban?
US influencer Sam Jones has caused outrage with a video: during a trip through Australia, she filmed herself kidnapping a baby wombat from its mother and posing for the camera. The outrage has reached into politics, with the Ministry of the Interior considering the consequences. Now, the influencer herself is speaking out.
Wombat Baby Abducted from the Wild
Sam Jones, who describes herself on social media either as an “outdoor enthusiast and hunter” or even more boldly as a “wildlife biologist and environmental scientist with a master’s degree,” published a video on Instagram. It shows her capturing a baby wombat on a remote road.
While the animal squirms in fear and emits hissing noises — a sign of extreme stress — she holds it up to the camera, laughing. Her companion, who is filming the scene, mocks the situation in the background. The mother wombat runs after her in panic but is unable to intervene.
Animal Rights Activists Are Alarmed
The influencer has since made her profiles inaccessible to the public, and her TikTok account has been blocked. However, the video of the shocking incident still exists and has triggered a general wave of outrage.
As first reported by BILD (which, like PETBOOK, is also owned by Axel Springer), experts point out that the eight-month-old wombat is in urgent need of its mother. The Wombat Protection Society explained: “She placed the defenseless baby back on a country road, potentially exposing it to the danger of being run over.” The animal could also have been injured. According to the wildlife protection organization Wires: “There’s a significant chance that it suffered fractures to its arms or shoulders.”
Politicians Strongly Condemn the Act
The case has now also reached political circles. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented with sarcasm: “Maybe she’s trying it on other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you get on!” Foreign Minister Penny Wong also expressed her horror and demanded: “Just leave the wombat alone.”
The Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, announced a review of Jones’ visa status. “I can’t wait to get rid of this individual,” he told the BBC. One potential consequence might be a ban on entering Australia.
In Australia, it is illegal to harm or kill native wildlife. Violations can be punished with fines of up to 235,600 US dollars (around 216,000 euros) or even up to seven years in prison.
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Influencer Defends Herself
Sam Jones herself sees things differently. She asserts that she never captures wild animals in a way that would cause them harm. In a TikTok video on a newly created account, she states: “Guys… I truly regret the wombat incident. It was a mistake. I am a professional, and to all those who are critical: enough is enough. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Whether she has really learned, however, seems questionable, as her latest video shows her “catch and release” fishing, a fishing practice banned in Germany in which fish are released back into the water after being caught.
Given the severe backlash and ongoing investigations, it is uncertain whether the influencer will persist in efforts to restore her reputation. Regardless, her actions have certainly gained her notoriety.