A US influencer, Sam Jones, has sparked outrage after a video of her taking a baby wombat from its mother in Australia went viral. The incident, which was filmed and shared online, shows Jones picking up the joey by the roadside and running to a car while the distressed mother wombat chased after them. The video, which has since been deleted, drew widespread criticism from conservationists and the public.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned Jones's actions, suggesting she try taking a baby crocodile from its mother instead. Immigration officials are now reviewing Jones's visa, with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke indicating she may face deportation. An online petition supporting her deportation has gathered over nearly 30,000 signatures as of Thursday (March 13) afternoon.

Conservationists, including the Wombat Protection Society, have expressed concern about the potential harm caused to the wombats. They criticized Jones for using the joey as a prop for social media attention. The society noted that the joey was left on a country road, putting it at risk of becoming roadkill. It remains unclear if the joey was reunited with its mother.

Jones, who has nearly 92,000 Instagram followers, defended her actions by stating that the baby wombat was held for only a minute and was returned to its mother unharmed. Despite this, her behavior has been described as appalling and possibly illegal under Australian laws that protect native wildlife.

World Animal Protection Australia's Head of Campaigns, Suzanne Milthorpe, emphasized that wombats are not playthings and called for accountability. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong also criticized the video, urging people to leave wildlife with their mothers.

The incident has raised questions about the legality of Jones's actions, as Australia prohibits taking or harming native wildlife unless the animal is in need of help due to the mother's death.

Ross Kaminsky