In a surprising turn of events in Melbourne, Australia, an American social media personality found herself at the center of controversy after she posted a video showing her picking up a baby wombat from its mother. After intense backlash, she has now issued an apology, stating that her actions were driven by concern for the animal’s well-being.
Sam Jones, who is also known as Samantha Strable, shared a clip on Instagram in which she is seen running at night, holding the young wombat she had taken from its mother on the roadside. This prompted Australian authorities to consider deportation as a consequence of her actions. Explaining her motivations, Jones shared on social media, “I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his dismay over the incident, labeling the handling of the young wombat as outrageous. On the matter, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that his department would look into whether Jones violated her visa terms before her departure from the country.
Burke remarked that he did not foresee Jones returning to Australia or seeking another visa after leaving the country voluntarily. The animal in question, identified as a common wombat or bare-nosed wombat, is a protected species native only to Australia.
According to Jones, witnessing the wombats stagnant on the road triggered her alarm, leading to her intervention to ensure their safety from the dangers of traffic. She explained, “As wombats are so often hit on Australian roads, I stopped to ensure they got off the road safely and didn’t get hit again.”
In her video, accompanied by a man who was recording and laughing, they both noticed the mother’s aggressive vocalizations as Jones uttered, “I caught a baby wombat.” Animal welfare specialists have criticized the situation, arguing that holding the baby by its forelegs could have caused harm.
After the encounter, Jones asserts that she returned the joey to its mother, ensuring they both left the roadway unharmed. Reflecting on the episode, she admitted, “I have done a great deal of reflection on this situation and have realized that I did not handle this situation as best as I should have.” She has since expressed remorse, apologizing for any distress her actions caused.
Despite several attempts to reach her for further comments, Jones did not immediately respond to inquiries about the specific location and timing of the incident. A specialist in wombats revealed that the animal in the video appeared to suffer from mange, a skin disease that could be fatal without proper care and treatment.
Jones has kept her current location private following the incident, declining to share her whereabouts.