During times of turmoil and uncertainty, societies can unite in their strong disapproval of a shared adversary. This week, Australia, which is preparing for a divisive election, found its adversary in an American social media influencer. Known as “Sam Jones” on Instagram, this woman from Montana was filmed stealing a baby wombat away from its mother at night and then triumphantly displaying the struggling marsupial for her camera. She released the joey back on the roadside in the darkness, illuminated only by her car’s headlights. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suggested she try the same with a crocodile, in response to this cruel act. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, also denounced it as “a cruel act.” The Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, will review the woman’s visa and any future applications, with the potential for intense scrutiny. others argued for her deportation. The Wombat Protection Society of Australia also showered the video with condemnation, as human interaction can lead to severe stress for wombats, and the clip didn’t confirm the baby’s reunion with its mother. This interference may cause fatal consequences, given the dependence of a baby of that size on its mother. The American influencer’s social media accounts, which describe her as an outdoor enthusiast and hunter, were updated to private following the incident. However, a similar account was created on TikTok, where she posted an apology stating it was a mistake and she is receiving threatening messages. The woman remains under investigation. In the interview with journalist Mark Heinz in 2023, Ms. Strable discussed her enthusiasm for hunting, detailing her travels and experiences across Chile, New Zealand, and her next challenge of trapping a Wyoming black bear. She described her experiences hunting and voiced her dislike for killing, finding the chase enjoyable and admitting to crying after a particularly intense pig hunt.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/world/australia/wombat-american-influencer.html