Minister Confirms US Influencer Who Grabbed Baby Wombat Has Left Australia

Influencer Sam Jones shared footage of herself separating a wombat joey from its mother for a social media video.

Ringo the Wombat eats a treat in Sydney, Australia on May 31, 2023. Jenny Evans/Getty Images

U.S. influencer Sam Jones, who faced backlash for removing a baby wombat from its mother, has left Australia, according to Immigration Minister Tony Burke’s office.

In a statement to The Epoch Times on March 14, Sam Jones’ departure was confirmed with Minister Burke remarking, “There’s never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia.”

His office was reviewing her visa status after footage of Jones became widely available.

Backlash Following Video

Jones had posted a now-deleted video, which showed her picking up a wombat joey and running towards the camera, while its mother was following her.

The man filming Jones can be heard saying, “Look at the mother, it’s chasing after her.”

Holding the struggling animal, Jones then says, “I caught a baby wombat. Mumma’s right there, she is pissed, let’s let him go.”

The wombat was eventually released back onto the road after the brief interaction.

Jones’ caption on the video described the moment as a “dream” to hold a wombat, a sentiment that was widely criticised.

Calls for Deportation and Government Response

The video prompted calls for Jones’ deportation.

A petition on Change.org calling for her immediate removal from the country and a permanent ban on re-entry quickly, accumulating over 12,000 signatures. The petition stated, “Messing with Australia’s beloved wildlife is not a joke.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged the outrage, stating, “Yes, look, I actually just saw that [the footage] as I was prepping for this interview. It looked pretty dreadful, didn’t it?”

Wong added that such matters should be left to the Home Affairs Department, which falls under Burke’s jurisdiction.

She further remarked, “Everyone who would have seen that would have thought, ‘Leave the baby wombat alone. Leave it with its mum.’”

Jones Defends Her Actions

In a comment on the now-deleted Instagram video, Jones defended herself, claiming that the baby wombat was only held for “ONE minute in total” before being returned to its mother.

She insisted that the wombat and its mother “wandered back off into the bush together completely unharmed.”

Jones also explained that her intentions were not malicious.

“I didn’t think I would be able to catch it in the first place, and took an opportunity to appreciate a really incredible animal up close. I don’t ever capture wildlife that will be harmed by my doing so.”

Since the incident, Jones has either taken her social media accounts private or deleted them entirely.