US social media influencer leaves Australia after snatching baby wombat from mother

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) – A US social media influencer who sparked outrage in Australia for taking a wild baby wombat from its mother in a viral video left the country on Friday.

The influencer, Sam Jones, also known as Samantha Strable, posted a video showing herself picking up the baby wombat from its mother and carrying it away, while the mother chased after her baby. Shortly thereafter, Jones placed the baby wombat on the ground and it returned to the shrubs.

influencer should try to “take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.”The video was widely shared and condemned, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling the incident an "outrage."

He also suggested the influencer should try to “take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.”

Immigration Minister Tony Burke's office confirmed the influencer's departure from Australia on Friday. On Thursday, Burke said his department was reviewing whether she had violated her visa conditions.

"There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia," Burke said of the incident.