US influencer faces backlash, apologizes for snatching baby wombat in Australia

American influencer Sam Jones sparked controversy after posting a now-deleted video on Instagram, where she is seen grabbing a baby wombat from its mother. In the video, Jones runs off with the wombat while a man behind the camera comments, “She caught a baby wombat," laughing. Jones temporarily separated the marsupial from its mother to take photos and record the video.

The baby wombat in the video was seen struggling and hissing for its mother. Jones eventually released the wombat back into the wild, but not before the mother chased after her. While Jones deleted the video from her social media, it has since gone viral, sparking severe backlash for her actions in snatching and harassing the animal for photos and videos.

According to a Reuters report, the US influencer has since returned to her home country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned her actions, criticizing her for separating the wombat from its mother and causing distress. He also took a jab at Jones, suggesting she try handling a baby crocodile or other dangerous animals that could fight back and see the outcome.