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Many Australians have called for strict actions against Sam Jones for interfering with the country’s wildlife.
The influencer released the baby’s wombat after taking a few pictures. (Photo Credits: X)
A US influencer has courted controversy for her “insensible” act involving a baby wombat. Sam Jones, a hunting enthusiast from Montana, recently visited Australia to experience an incredibly diverse range of wildlife across the country. During her trip, the content creator dropped a video on Instagram where she was captured picking up a wombat from the side of a road only to click pictures with it. The animal was accompanied by its mother, who was visibly shocked by the sudden separation.
Holding the baby on her lap, Jones ran towards a car and went on to pose with it. The mother wombat tried to cross the road while following them, but gave up after a few moments. The one who was clicking the pictures of Jones and the baby wombat was also heard cracking jokes about the situation.
When the photo session was done, the influencer released the animal and it disappeared into a nearby bush. After Jones started facing backlash for the footage, she immediately took it down from her Instagram handle. She also locked her account as private.
The reel, however, had already caught the attention of many users who spread it across other social media platforms as well. The video was dropped on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption– “American hunting influencer removes baby wombat from distressed mother in Australia. Is this legal?”
After the post surfaced on the internet, a viewer asked, “Did the mother even take the baby back? Sometimes animals won’t take it after it smells like a human.” Another said, “That’s a tough spot for everyone involved! I hope they were able to reunite the little one with its mom safely.”
Criticising the “horrible” act, a user suggested that the “RSPCA or the Department of Environment should prosecute Sam Jones for interfering with wildlife”. “A big fine, perhaps 200 hours of community service,” the person added. “Hope she has $1.1 million handy because that’s fine,” added an individual.
Speaking about the incident, Yolandi Vermaak, a licensed wombat rescuer, told Yahoo News, “After I watched it, I was probably the angriest I’ve ever been, it’s very distressing. Nine out of ten times, the mother will not come back for her baby if they’re separated. Babies are taught from a young age to stay nose-to-tail with their mum. So if mum runs when there’s danger, she doesn’t stop and check the baby, it needs to keep up.”
Many Australians have called for strict actions against Sam Jones for interfering with the country’s wildlife. In her Instagram bio, the influencer refers to herself as a “Wildlife Biologist and Environmental Scientist” with an MSc degree.
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