Latest news with #WombatRescue
Sky News
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Sam Jones: US influencer who snatched baby wombat from its mother leaves Australia amid fears for animal's health
An American influencer who caused outrage by snatching a baby wombat from its mother has left Australia - amid concerns the "disorientated" marsupial may not have refound its parent. Sam Jones, who describes herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter", left the country on Friday after the Australian government said it was reviewing her visa. In a now-deleted video to her 92,000 followers on Instagram, recorded at an unknown location, Jones says: "I caught a baby wombat" as a man filming her laughs. She returns the animal to the roadside after several seconds. Now, there are concerns the baby wombat may have been left to fend for itself - and an animal welfare expert has warned it has a potentially fatal skin disease. Yolandi Vermaak, founder of animal care charity Wombat Rescue, said separating the youngster from its mother created a risk the parent would reject her offspring. "My biggest concern is that we didn't actually see mum and baby getting reunited," Ms Vermaak said. "When she put it down, it looked disorientated. It was turned away from where the mother was last seen. So we don't know if mum and baby actually found each other again." Ms Vermaak said Ms Jones should say where she left the wombat after the video showed the joey had a skin disease. "The baby has mange and it's a matter of time before it dies of mange, so it's important for us to find where this happened and to get this baby and its mum treated as soon as possible," Ms Vermaak said. Ms Jones's actions drew fierce criticism from politicians. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said she had clearly caused "distress" in the marsupial's mother and described her behaviour as "just an outrage". Home affairs minister Tony Burke, speaking after a government official confirmed Ms Jones had left the country voluntarily, said: "There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia." Previously, he said he could not wait for "Australia to see the back of this individual". The wombat appears to be a common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat. It is found only in Australia and is a protected marsupial.
CBC
14-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
American influencer who snatched baby wombat from its mother leaves Australia
An American influencer left Australia on Friday after the government announced it was reviewing her visa over a video she posted of her snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, who describes herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter," made her Instagram account private Thursday after she was widely condemned for the video. "There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement after a government official confirmed Jones had flown from the country voluntarily. In the video, Montana-based Jones lifts the wombat joey by its front legs in darkness from a roadside, then runs away from its mother. "I caught a baby wombat," she said as a man filming her laughs. She returns the wombat to the roadside after several seconds. Burke had said earlier Friday the conditions of her visa were being reviewed to determine whether immigration law has been breached. "I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don't expect she will return," he said in the statement received by The Associated Press. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese added his voice to the criticism. "To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage," he said. "I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother." Jones, who also uses the name Samantha Strable, closed her social media channels to messages and couldn't be reached for comment Friday. The wombat appears to be a common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat. It is a protected marsupial found only in Australia. Yolandi Vermaak, founder of the animal care charity Wombat Rescue, said separating the young wombat from its mother created a risk that the mother would reject her offspring. "My biggest concern is that we didn't actually see mom and baby getting reunited. When she put it down, it looked disoriented. It was turned away from where the mother was last seen. So we don't know if mom and baby actually found each other again," Vermaak said. Vermaak also called on Jones to say where the wombat was after the video showed the joey had a skin disease. "The baby has mange and it's a matter of time before it dies of mange, so it's important for us to find where this happened and to get this baby and its mom treated as soon as possible," Vermaak said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
American Who Snatched a Baby Wombat from Its Mother Leaves Australia
An American influencer left Australia on Friday after the government announced it was reviewing her visa over a video she posted of her snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, who describes herself as an 'outdoor enthusiast & hunter,' made her Instagram account private Thursday after she was widely condemned for the video. 'There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia,' Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement after a government official confirmed Jones had flown from the country voluntarily. In the video, Montana-based Jones lifts the wombat joey by its front legs in darkness from a roadside then runs away from its mother. 'I caught a baby wombat,' she said as a man filming her laughs. She returns the wombat to the roadside after several seconds. Burke had said earlier Friday the conditions of her visa were being reviewed to determine whether immigration law has been breached. 'I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don't expect she will return,' he said in the statement received by The Associated Press. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese added his voice to the criticism. 'To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage,' Albanese said. 'I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother,' Albanese added. Jones, who also uses the name Samantha Strable, closed her social media channels to messages and couldn't be reached for comment Friday. The wombat appears to be common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat. It is a protected marsupial found only in Australia. Yolandi Vermaak, founder of the animal care charity Wombat Rescue, said separating the young wombat from its mother created a risk that the mother would reject her offspring. 'My biggest concern is that we didn't actually see mom and baby getting reunited. When she put it down, it looked disoriented. It was turned away from where the mother was last seen. So we don't know if mom and baby actually found each other again,' Vermaak said. Vermaak also called on Jones to say where the wombat was after the video showed the joey had a skin disease. 'The baby has mange and it's a matter of time before it dies of mange, so it's important for us to find where this happened and to get this baby and its mom treated as soon as possible,' Vermaak said.
The Independent
14-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
American who snatched baby wombat from its mother being reviewed for Australian visa breach
Australia is reviewing an American influencer's visa after she posted video of her snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, who describes herself as an 'outdoor enthusiast & hunter,' made her Instagram account private Thursday after she was widely condemned for the video. She lifts the wombat joey by its front legs in darkness from a roadside then runs away from its mother. 'I caught a baby wombat,' she said as a man filming her laughs. She returns the wombat to the roadside after several seconds. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said her visa was under review. 'The department is now working through the conditions on her current visa and determining whether immigration law has been breached,' Burke said in a statement received by The Associated Press on Friday. 'I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don't expect she will return,' he added. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese added his voice to the criticism. 'To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage,' Albanese told reporters. 'I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother,' Albanese added. Jones, who also uses the name Samantha Strable, closed her social media channels to messages and couldn't be reached for comment Friday. The wombat appears to be common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat. It is a protected marsupial found only in Australia. Yolandi Vermaak, founder of the animal care charity Wombat Rescue, said separating the young wombat from its mother created a risk that the mother would reject her offspring. 'My biggest concern is that we didn't actually see mom and baby getting reunited. When she put it down, it looked disoriented. It was turned away from where the mother was last seen. So we don't know if mom and baby actually found each other again,' Vermaak told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Vermaak also called on Jones to say where the wombat was after the video showed the joey had a skin disease. 'The baby has mange and it's a matter of time before it dies of mange, so it's important for us to find where this happened and to get this baby and its mom treated as soon as possible,' Vermaak said. .
