Tejal Somvanshi
An American hunting influencer, Sam Jones, has sparked outrage after posting a video of herself temporarily removing a baby wombat from its mother on an Australian roadside. The footage, which has since been deleted, showed Jones running with the distressed joey while its mother followed in apparent distress.
Jones, who has about 92,000 Instagram followers and describes herself as a “wildlife biologist and environmental scientist,” claimed the baby was returned to its mother. However, wildlife experts have raised serious concerns about both the physical and psychological harm caused by the encounter.
Expert Assessment of the Incident
Dr. Tania Bishop, a veterinarian with the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), described the video as “absolutely appalling” and highlighted several concerning aspects of the interaction.
“You see her grab the joey that’s completely dependent on the mum away by the forearms, which are a really weak point, especially in a young joey like that,” Dr. Bishop explained. “My concern is whether or not there was tendon, ligament damage, muscle damage, nerve damage to the upper arm… but not only that, there’s psychological damage to both the mother and the joey.”
Dr. Bishop identified the wombat as an “at-foot joey,” dependent on its mother. She noted that the joey’s hissing and crying in the video were clear signs of “extreme distress.”
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Legal and Conservation Implications
Australian native animals, including wombats, are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. According to the source material, in several Australian states, it is illegal to take, catch, or harm native animals.
Penalties for animal cruelty offenses in Australia vary by state but can reach up to $235,600 for individuals and include potential imprisonment of up to seven years.
Wombats face multiple threats in Australia, including habitat loss from natural disasters, disease, road accidents, and climate change, making incidents like this particularly concerning for conservation efforts.
Public Reaction
The video quickly went viral, triggering intense criticism from Australians and wildlife advocates worldwide. Many social media users called for Jones’ deportation and legal consequences.
“It’s not just the entitlement, it’s the disrespect,” wrote one user on Reddit. “That her first instinct isn’t one of awe and gratitude to see this animal in the wild, but to rush in and greedily exploit the moment for personal gain… speaks volumes about her character.”
Others questioned how someone claiming to be a wildlife biologist could demonstrate such poor judgment regarding wildlife interaction.
Broader Pattern of Behavior
The wombat incident appears to be part of a pattern of concerning wildlife interactions during Jones’ Australian trip. Her social media has shown her handling other protected species, including an echidna, and she reportedly posted about “casually f***ing around with a venomous snake.”
In response to the growing backlash, Jones has set both her Instagram and TikTok accounts to private.
Expert Guidance on Wildlife Encounters
Dr. Bishop emphasized that while Australia’s wildlife is remarkable, the best way to appreciate these animals is from a distance.
“They’re already under stress, we don’t need to do anything more to put them in danger,” she said. “We need to enjoy them while we still have them in the wild.”
Jason Baker, senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), echoed this sentiment, stating: “PETA’s message is simple: leave animals alone. They are not props for Instagram.”
