Animal advocacy groups in Australia have expressed their outrage over the actions of a US influencer, Sam Jones, who posted a video of herself removing a baby wombat from its mother for social media content. Jones, an avid hunter from Montana, was seen in the now-deleted Instagram footage picking up the small joey and rushing towards a car, leaving the mother wombat visibly distressed.
Dr. Tania Bishop, a veterinarian with WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), condemned the incident, noting the potential physical harm to the joey due to the way it was lifted. She highlighted the joey’s “extreme distress,” evidenced by its attempts to call back to its mother. The situation not only raised concerns about possible injuries but also about the psychological impact on both the baby wombat and its mother, who risked her safety to approach the perceived threat.
The incident has drawn severe criticism from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), with senior vice president Jason Baker emphasising that Australian wildlife should never be treated as mere props for online fame. He expressed hope for the safety and reunion of the distressed wombat pair.
Although Jones described her interaction with the joey as a dream come true in her video caption, the backlash was immediate, prompting her to set her Instagram account to private shortly after being contacted by media outlets for comments. The exact location of the incident remains unidentified.
In Australia, native animals are protected under various state and federal laws. In certain regions, including the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Tasmania, it is illegal to capture or harm native wildlife. As of yet, no charges have been filed related to this incident.