Influencer Apologizes After Controversial Wombat Incident: "I’m Truly Sorry for the Distress"

In a recent turn of events, American influencer Sam Jones has found herself in hot water after posting a video that showed her taking a baby wombat from its mother in Australia. The backlash was swift and severe, prompting her to release a public apology on social media.

On March 14, Jones, who describes herself as a "wildlife biologist and environmental scientist" on her Instagram, shared a lengthy statement addressing the controversy. In her defense, she claimed that her intention was to save the wombat from potential danger on the road. “When we found the mother and joey on a road, not moving, I was extremely concerned. As wombats are so often hit on Australian roads, I stopped to ensure they got off the road safely and didn't get hit,” she explained.

Jones continued, “When I walked up to them, the joey did not move or run off. I was concerned it may have been sick or injured, and made a snap judgment to pick up the joey and see if this was the case. I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me.” This explanation, however, did little to quell the outrage.

The now-deleted video, which was initially aired by 10 News First, shows Jones picking up the baby wombat at night while it screeches for its mother. The mother wombat, visibly distressed, runs across the street in an apparent attempt to protect her baby. The cameraman can be heard exclaiming, “Look at the mother, it’s chasing after her!” to which Jones gleefully responds, “I caught a baby wombat!” She then acknowledges the mother’s presence, saying, “OK mama’s right there and she is pissed, let’s let him go,” before releasing the baby wombat.

After the incident, Jones left Australia, stating that her actions were never intended to harm or steal the joey. She claimed that after a quick examination, she returned the wombat to its mother, and they “went off together.” In her apology, she reflected on her actions, admitting, “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. My only intent was to prevent these amazing animals from being hit … I have learned from this situation, and am truly sorry for the distress I have caused.”

Jones also emphasized that her video was not about gaining social media attention or likes, insisting it was “not staged.” However, the damage was done, and the public reaction was overwhelmingly negative.

In the latter part of her statement, Jones claimed that she has received “thousands” of threats against her life and criticized the Australian government for allegedly allowing the slaughter of wombats in large numbers each year. She directed her ire towards Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, questioning his response to her actions. “While the prime minister wishes harm on me for picking up a wombat, I implore you to take a good, hard look at what is currently being done in Australia surrounding the real issues it faces, the lack of power for tens of thousands of Aussies, and the treatment of its native wildlife,” she wrote.

Jones concluded her statement by challenging the public to reconsider their perspective on her actions. “Then, decide for yourself, if I, a person who certainly makes mistakes, am really your villain,” she stated.

Following the uproar, a government official confirmed that Jones had voluntarily left Australia, as reported by the Associated Press. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke mentioned that the conditions of her visa were under review. The Department of Home Affairs did not provide immediate comments when contacted for clarification.

Prime Minister Albanese did not hold back in his criticism of Jones, labeling her video as an "outrage." He added, “Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother.”

In Australia, animal cruelty laws are stringent, with penalties that can reach up to $235,600 AUD (approximately $149,000 USD) for individuals and $250,000 AUD (around $158,000 USD) for corporations, alongside potential jail time of up to seven years. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about wildlife protection and the responsibilities of influencers when interacting with animals in their natural habitats.