Influencer Faces Backlash for Stealing a Screaming Baby Wombat from Its Mom in Controversial Video

Mar. 15, 2025

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Sam Jones is facing backlash for a video she posted on Instagram that documents her interfering with native wildlife in Australia.

All the while, the influencer is playing to the camera as the person recording her narrates what’s happening at the scene. “Look at the mother, it’s chasing after her!" the cameraman says, also laughing.

The little wombat Apari looking out of the pouch of his mother Tinsel. Apari is the first wombat offspring for nearly forty years at the Duisburg zoo.Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty

Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty

The video received backlash from the public condemning her act after it was posted online. While her Instagram has been made private since the controversial post, it appears her TikTok (samstrays_somewhere) has been deactivated.

“It’s disgusting to distress those animals in such a manner as this,” wrote one user on aRedditthread about the video.

Wildlife Vet Dr. Tania Bishop told the outlet that the joey in the clip looked “around eight months old” and noted that it’s in its stage of life where it would be relying on its mom “at all times.”

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“When she’s running, it’s not supported underneath, and wombats are incredibly solid, especially in their back end,” Dr. Bishop told News.com.au. “So there’s every chance she could have fractured the upper humerus, or the top of the arms, or caused damage to the shoulders.”

In Australia, penalties foranimal cruelty offensesvary in each jurisdiction, with fines reaching as high as $235,600 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations. Jail time can be up to seven years.

source: people.com