 "Sam Jones—who describes herself on social media as a \"wildlife biologist and environmental scientist\"—faced intense backlash after she was filmed grabbing a baby wombat from its mother to pose for a photo. Image courtesy: Instagram/@Samstrays_somewhere, Pixabay")
An American hunting influencer’s trip to Australia has sparked widespread outrage, with growing demands for her deportation after she was filmed grabbing a baby wombat from its mother to pose for a photo.
Sam Jones—who describes herself on social media as a “wildlife biologist and environmental scientist”—faced intense backlash after posting the now-deleted Instagram reel. The controversy even reached Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who criticised the “so-called influencer” for her actions.
On Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that her visa was under review, with authorities assessing whether any laws had been broken. “I can’t wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don’t expect she will return,” he said.
But who is Samantha Jones? Could her visa actually be cancelled? And what does Australian law say about such incidents? Here’s a closer look.
But first, what happened?
Jones, known for her hunting and outdoor adventure content on social media, sparked outrage after sharing a video of herself excitedly running across a road to grab a baby wombat she had spotted in the dark.
In the now-deleted 32-second clip, she is seen lifting the joey for a picture while its distressed mother anxiously chases after her.
As the baby wombat wriggled in an attempt to free itself, Jones could be heard saying, “I caught a baby wombat. Okay, mum is right there and she is pissed. Let’s let him go.” Meanwhile, an Australian man accompanying her reassured her, saying, “Nah, he’s all right.”
Holding the animal up for the camera, Jones described the moment as her “dream” before eventually placing the joey back on the ground, claiming that the mother and baby were safely reunited.
However, wildlife experts warn that this may not have been the case.
Jess Abrahams, a national nature campaigner at the Australian Conservation Foundation, stressed that interfering with the joey could have severe consequences, as human scent might cause the mother to abandon her baby. “This is not the way to treat wildlife anywhere in the world – especially not in Australia,” he told The Sydney Herald.
Licensed wombat rescuer Yolandi Vermaak echoed this concern, explaining to Yahoo News that wombat mothers often do not return for their young if they become separated. “Nine out of ten times, the mother will not come back for her baby. Babies are taught from a young age to stay nose-to-heel with their mum. So if mum runs when there’s danger, she doesn’t stop and check the baby—it needs to keep up,” she said. “You can see the baby is disoriented, and didn’t know where to go.”
While Jones claims that she only held the joey for one minute and it was unharmed upon being returned to its mother, experts have a different view.
Veterinarian Tania Bishop, who works with wildlife organisation WIRES, added that Jones’ handling of the joey could have caused serious harm. “The way that she has picked it up by the forearms and then yanked it up like that alone could cause serious injury to the upper limbs, shoulder, and structures within the shoulder,” she said. “Swinging it as she ran across the road could have made things even worse.”
Also read: How cars and chlamydia are threatening Australian koalas
Aussies are furious
The video has sparked widespread outrage, with many Australians expressing anger over Jones’ actions.
One user wrote, “W**, this is horrible. The RSPCA or the Department of Environment needs to prosecute her for interfering with wildlife. A big fine, perhaps 200 hours of community service. Then deport her.” Another added, “Couldn’t care less if it’s legal. It’s abhorrent to take a child from its mother like that.”
Beyond online backlash, many are demanding that Jones be banned from returning to Australia. “Arrest. Fine. Deport. Ban,” one commenter insisted. An online petition calling for her deportation has already gathered 10,500 signatures.
Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t hold back, mocking the American influencer on Thursday, to try to steal a baby crocodile next time.
“I would 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,” Albanese said. “Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother. See how you go then.”
Who is Samantha Jones?
According to her Instagram, Jones is an “outdoor enthusiast” and hunter, with a social media following of over 92,000. She has made her account private since the incident.
According to The Sydney Herald, Jones’ Instagram highlights showcase her travels in Australia, where she has interacted with various native animals.
She has shared videos of kangaroos, cockatoos, dolphins, and more hands-on encounters, including fishing and shark handling. One video shows her pulling a small shark from a rock pool, captioned, “LITTLE SHARK WAS READY TO FIGHT.” Another clip from February 2024 features her holding and stroking a wild echidna before releasing it.
In a 2023 Cowboy State Daily interview, Jones, identified as Samantha Strable, discussed her nomadic hunting lifestyle, explaining that she travels south during Wyoming’s harsh winters, supporting herself through farm and ranch work. She claimed to have bow-hunted stags in Chile and killed a wild pig with a knife in New Zealand, calling it an “intense” experience.
“Honestly, I cried,” she added. “I don’t like killing. I like the hunting, I like the chase. It’s not fun to see anything die. The best you can hope for is that it dies quickly and painlessly.”
Jones’ CouchSurfing profile lists her as a 24-year-old Wyoming native who has lived in Australia, Chile, New Zealand and the US. While she claims to be a “Wildlife Biologist & Environmental Scientist,” past records list her as a Database Administrator at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Will her visa be cancelled?
The Department of Home Affairs is now reviewing the conditions of Jones’ visa to determine if any immigration laws were violated.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke hinted that even if her visa isn’t immediately revoked, she may struggle to return. “Given the level of scrutiny that will happen if she ever applies for a visa again, I’ll be surprised if she even bothers,” he said.
Wildlife veterinarian Tania Bishop pointed out that all wildlife in Australia is protected under biosecurity and animal cruelty laws, which vary by state. According to the RSPCA, penalties for violating these laws can range from fines of $22,000 (Rs 12.04 lakh) to $236,500 (Rs 1.29 crore) and even jail terms, with a maximum sentence of five years in New South Wales.
With input from agencies