US Influencer Sparks Outrage After Handling Baby Wombat in Viral Video
Australian animal advocacy groups have condemned a US influencer for allegedly removing a baby wombat from its mother for a social media video.
Sam Jones, a hunting enthusiast from Montana, was filmed picking up a young wombat from the roadside and carrying it to a car, while the mother wombat appeared visibly distressed. The video, which was shared on Instagram before being deleted, has drawn sharp criticism from wildlife experts and animal rights organizations.
Jones later returned the joey to the grassy roadside, but experts warn that the incident may have caused both physical and psychological harm to the animals.
Wildlife Experts Condemn the Act
Dr. Tania Bishop, a vet with the Wildlife Information, Rescue, and Education Service (WIRES), expressed her outrage at the footage.
“This is completely unacceptable. The joey was clearly in distress, hissing and calling out to its mother,” Dr. Bishop told 9news.com.au. “The way it was handled—being grabbed by its weak forearms—raises concerns about potential ligament, tendon, and nerve damage.”
Dr. Bishop also warned that the mother’s reaction, risking her safety to approach the influencer, demonstrated the strong maternal bond in wildlife. “This is exactly why people should never interfere with native animals,” she added.
Animal Rights Groups Call for Respect for Wildlife
Jason Baker, Senior Vice President of PETA, strongly criticized the influencer’s actions, stating, “Animals are not props for social media. This blatant disregard for wildlife is unacceptable and should serve as a reminder that human interference can cause significant harm.”
The RSPCA also condemned the incident, with Dr. Di Evans, Senior Scientific Officer, stating, “This distressing footage highlights the strong maternal connection between wombats and their young. Separating a joey from its mother can be incredibly harmful and should never happen.”
No Legal Action Taken—For Now
While Jones has set her Instagram account to private following the backlash, there have been no reports of legal action. In Australia, native animals are protected under both state and federal laws, with regulations varying by region. In some states, including New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, it is illegal to interfere with or harm wildlife.
Jones, who has 92,000 Instagram followers, captioned the now-deleted post saying it was her “dream” to hold a baby wombat.
Concerns from people who work to protect wildlife were raised again when Jones was seen holding an echidna in another video from her trip to Australia.
It’s still not clear where the Baby Wombat event happened, and no charges have been brought yet. Animal rights groups, on the other hand, keep telling people to respect and protect Australia’s unique wildlife.
