• A video has gone viral of a baby wombat being picked up
  • The wombat was picked up and taken away from the mother temporarily
  • The video was filmed somewhere in southeastern Australia
viral wombat video Samantha Strable
A video of a baby wombat being picked up in southeastern Australia by a US influencer has gone viral. Credit: IMAGO/ Steffen Schellhorn

No, the wombat in the photo is not the one that was taken! A video went viral on Instagram when a US influencer picked up a baby wombat on the side of a country road in southeastern Australia and took it to a car. The viral wombat video was uploaded to an account by an influencer named Sam Jones, who also goes by Samantha Strable. You can watch the video below. The original video has been deleted from the samanthastrays_somewhere account.

@dwnews

An American influencer has sparked outrage in Australia after posting a video of herself snatching a wild baby wombat away from its mother. australia wombat influencer outrage albanese

♬ original sound – DW News

What did the influencer do?

In the video, Jones picks up the baby wombat. After that, the mother wombat chases the influencer and hisses at her. The Montana-based influencer says “Ok, mama’s right there and she’s p*****. Let’s let him go.” The video has sparked outrage online because wombats are listed as critically endangered in Australia. Social media users were also outraged because Jones is an “outdoor enthusiast and hunter,” as per her Instagram account. Jones has since gone private. On 14 March, reports also say she left the country.

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The comments were flooded with videos berating the influencer for her actions. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke even spoke out against Jones’s actions. “There has never been a better time to be a baby wombat,” Burke joked.

She had been living there on a visa and working as a wildlife biologist and environmental scientist, according to her social media.

Social media reacted to the story, but what did people say? Here are all the biggest online reactions.

How did the internet react to the Samantha Strable viral wombat video?

viral wombat video Samantha Strable
Strable/Jones holding the baby wombat

Primarily the angry reactions were from Australians and the country’s government. Maybe it was because Jones isn’t from the country and Australians thought she was ignorant in picking up the animal. But that is just speculation.

Aussies angry about the viral wombat video

Non-profit organization Protect All Wildlife was one of the first on X to call out the influencer on X. The account posted: “Sam Jones is a US hunting influencer who has gone viral for posting a TikTok of her taking a baby wombat away from its mother in the middle of the night as a joke…for a bit of fun.” They then urged people to sign a petition to ban the influencer from Australia.

An Australian user also posted the population’s general outrage about the incident. The user said that Australia is usually an “easygoing nation” and all they ask in return is not to “touch [their] wombats.” A reasonable request!

Free the wombats! One user posted a video of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s reaction. Users on X praised Albanese for his prompt response to the viral wombat video. Albabenese challenges the influence to try picking up some of Australia’s more deadline species, like the baby crocodiles.

Unity against Samantha Strable

However, there was a positive side to the viral wombat video. Users quickly spoke about how the country united in outrage against the influencer. One post said, “A baby wombat has united Australia for a hot minute. We may squabble, but we all agree you don’t disrespect our wildlife. Love to see it.”

In matters of wildlife and country, you have to band together!

Bluntly, another user posted about Strable: “I genuinely hope that woman who took the baby wombat from its mother is having a terrible day.” Savage.

Samantha Strable – no empathy for animals?

Many questions surrounded the viral wombat video, including whether the influencer has empathy for animals. Users posted photos from Strable’s hunting trips, which didn’t age well.

Consequently, one user wrote that Strable had “no empathy” after seeing her hunting pictures.

The pictures are online, but may be upsetting.

Confusion – why would you do that?

The viral wombat video had many users scratching their heads about why someone would do that.

Forgiveness for Samantha Strable over the viral wombat video

On the other hand, a small handful of the internet were willing to forgive the influencer. One post read: “I am from Australia. She was stupid. She has apologized. We have forgiven her. Perhaps she can say some nice things about Australians. Americans are welcome here.”

While some users encouraged forgiveness, others weren’t so willing. Blasting Strable’s apology, a user called the influencer “arrogant.”

Did Samantha Strable apologize?

Conflicting reports about whether the influencer has apologized have arisen. A TikTok account posted an apology that was deemed to be fake, but otherwise, nothing has been verified.

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Sophie Humphrey
Sophie Humphrey is a freelance writer and journalist. Sophie has seven years experience in journalism and has a keen interest in pop culture and entertainment. Sophie has worked for the likes of Time Out London, The Upcoming and Screen rant.
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