During times of turmoil and uncertainty, societies often come together to strongly condemn a common villain. This week, Australia, which is preparing for a highly contested election, found their unified target in an American social media influencer identified as “Sam Jones” from Montana. Jones was filmed taking a baby wombat away from its mother at night, close to a remote road, and then holding it up for the camera as it struggled and cried. The incident caused widespread outrage in Australia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticizing the act of distressing the mother wombat. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, also labeled it a “cruel act.” The Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, stated that officials would review the woman’s visa for potential breaches of immigration laws and that any future applications from her would be scrutinized. Australians were calling for the woman’s deportation, and ABC Australia reported that she had already left the country. The Wombat Protection Society of Australia denounced the act, pointing out the severe stress it can cause to wombats and the potential fatal consequences of prolonged separation from their mothers. The influencer’s Instagram account, which describes her as an outdoor enthusiast and hunter, has been made private. An apology was later posted on her newly created TikTok account, expressing regret for the incident. Experts believe her identity to be Samantha Strable, whom a reporter from Wyoming had interviewed in 2023 regarding her hunting activities. Despite attempts to reach out, the influencer only stated that an official statement was forthcoming.

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