American hunter takes baby wombat from mother. A stock photo of a wombat foraging for food at sunset in North Eastern Tasmania, Australia mlharing/Getty
A video of an American hunter picking up a baby wombat in Australia and carrying it away from its mother is sparking backlash on social media.
The Context
Earlier this week, a video showing Sam Jones, an "outdoor enthusiast & hunter," according to her Instagram page, was posted on Reddit. The post, titled "American hunting influencer removes baby wombat from distressed mother. Is this legal?" was posted on the r/australia subreddit, along with the video, which has since been deleted from Jones's account.
The post received thousands of comments, many of which criticized Jones's decision to pick up the wombat and run away from its mother.
What To Know
The video shows Jones picking up a baby wombat on the side of the road and then running toward the camera with it. The wombat's mother can be seen chasing after Jones.
"Look at the mother," the person filming said while laughing.
"I caught a baby wombat," Jones said. The baby wombat can be heard screeching. "OK, mama's right there, and she is pissed. Let's let him go."
The video then shows Jones returning the wombat to the side of the road. It had been removed from Jones's Instagram account as of Tuesday evening. Her public profile has since been set to private.
Jones told Newsweek in an Instagram message, "Of course the wombat went back with its mother as you can see from both the video and its caption. It was briefly picked up and then immediately released, no harm was done and we ensured they got off the road safely."
When asked why she deleted the video, Jones didn't respond.
In the Reddit post, people criticized Jones's decision to pick up the wombat and take it away from its mother for a video. People also commented on several other posts on Jones's Instagram page before the account went private.
What People Are Saying
One Reddit user commented on the post: "That her first instinct is not awe and gratitude to see this animal in the wild but to rush in to greedily exploit the moment for personal gain no matter the trauma it causes to anything and anyone else, it's such an indictment on her character. Absolutely shameful."
A comment on Jones's Instagram account said: "Leave baby wombats alone. Let us pray you never procreate."
A PBS fact sheet about wombats: "The common wombat and southern hairy-nosed wombat populations are more stable than that of the northern hairy-nosed wombat. However, all three species face a number of threats, including land clearing, habitat competition with cattle, poison bait set out for rabbit control, drought, road deaths, predation and disease."
National Park Service (NPS) on a webpage about viewing wildlife safely: "Even when you're farther away, leaving wildlife alone can help your viewing experience—plus it's the law. It's illegal to feed, touch, tease, frighten, or intentionally disturb wildlife."
What Happens Next
The original video has been deleted, but other accounts have shared it across social media.
Related Articles
Pit Bull Owner Warned Against Adopting Small Dog-Now They're Besties
Emotional Moment Retired Breeding Dog Reunites With Sister After Year Apart
Internet Obsessed With Cat's Unusual Coloring: 'Brain Can't Comprehend'
Reason Tiny Dog Won't Give Owner Paw Anymore Leaves Internet in Stitches
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM.