'For holding a wombat, thousands threatened my life'

An American influencer sparked a huge controversy after filming a video in Australia where she picked up a joey from its startled wombat mother. The influencer expressed "sincere apologies" and received thousands of death threats as a result. The incident has garnered widespread attention and quickly escalated on social media.

The influencer, named Sam Jones, who describes herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter," was filmed picking up a young wombat on the side of the road. The video shows her laughing as she runs towards a car, while the wombat mother chases after her. This behavior has triggered strong condemnation from the Australian public.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly condemned her actions, sarcastically stating, "Try picking up a baby crocodile from its mother and see what happens." This reflects the Australian government's high level of attention and strong dissatisfaction with the incident.

Jones issued a lengthy statement on her Instagram page, claiming that she was trying to move the animal safely off the road at the time. She explained that, as can be seen in the video, the wombat mother ran off the road, but the joey did not, which is why she picked it up. She also stated that she ran across the road "not to take the joey away from its mother, but because I was afraid it would attack me."

Jones emphasized that this was "not staged, nor was it for entertainment," and that in her excitement at the time, she "acted too quickly and failed to provide the necessary background information to the online audience." She also stated that her actions were "never intended to harm or steal the joey."

Australia has various hunting laws and regulations that have sparked controversy and divided the nation. Wombats are native to Australia and are protected animals, but permits can be obtained to kill them if deemed necessary. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said his department is reviewing whether Jones's visa can be revoked, but according to the BBC, she has already left the country on her own.

Jones, also known as Samantha Strable, has nearly 95,000 followers on Instagram and describes herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter." She has deleted the posts related to the wombat. This incident continues to escalate, sparking widespread discussion about wildlife protection and the code of conduct for influencers.