Sam Jones, an American influencer, has come out to defend herself after the controversy generated by a video in which she is seen separating a baby wombat from its mother in Australia. The recording, which was later deleted, showed Jones holding the baby wombat while it began to scream. Her action sparked a wave of criticism from animal rights activists and politicians, who accused the influencer of putting the animal in danger.
In response to the outrage, Jones explained her actions in two Instagram posts, stating that she had acted out of concern for the wombat’s health. However, Australian authorities and animal protection organizations criticized her behavior, while the influencer tried to defend herself against the growing public condemnation.
Sam Jones’s explanations
In the Instagram posts, Jones argued that her decision to take the wombat was based on her concern that the animal might be sick or injured. “I was worried that it could be sick or injured and I made the hasty decision to pick up the kangaroo,” wrote the influencer, adding that her actions were not motivated by the intention to harm or steal from the animal. In the now-deleted video, Jones addressed the camera saying, “I caught a baby wombat,” while the animal was squealing. “It’s okay, mom is there and she’s angry. Let’s let it go,” she added.
Criticism for the video and the global reaction
The video caused great outrage, especially from the Wombat Protection Society of Australia, which described the recording as “horrific” and pointed out that it was made “to get likes on social media.” The organization also emphasized that Jones' actions put the wombat at risk, exposing it to the danger of being run over on the road. Reactions also came from the political sphere, where Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly criticized Jones' behavior, warning him: “Instead of stealing a wombat joey from its mother, find another animal that can defend itself. We’ll see how that goes.”
Justification and an ongoing investigation
In a second statement, Jones defended his actions by pointing out that the Australian government authorizes the killing of wombats, resulting in the death of thousands of these animals each year. “Thousands of them are shot to death, poisoned to death, and legally trapped every year,” Jones said, suggesting that his actions were no more harmful than practices allowed by the government. Meanwhile, Australian authorities are also reviewing the conditions of his visa to determine if he violated the country’s immigration laws.