A deleted social-media video appears to show influencer Sam Jones—also reported under the name Samantha Strable—running from a roadside while holding a young wombat, despite the joey’s mother being nearby. Jones briefly separated the animal from its mother, then placed it back near the road. The clip ended without showing whether the mother and joey safely reunited.
That distinction matters: the footage and official reporting establish a controversial handling incident, not that Jones permanently “stole” or kidnapped the wombat. Wildlife experts nevertheless condemned the decision to pick up a seemingly healthy joey for filming, saying members of the public should leave wildlife intervention to licensed rescuers and veterinarians.
What the wombat video showed
The approximately 34-second clip was posted in March 2025. It showed Jones running from a roadside toward a vehicle while holding a young wombat. The joey appeared to screech and struggle as Jones carried it.
In the video, Jones said, “I caught a baby wombat.” She also acknowledged that the joey’s mother was close by and described the mother as “pissed.” Jones then put the young wombat back near the roadside. The mother appeared to follow or approach the people filming.
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The recording stopped at that point. It did not independently show the joey returning to its mother, nor did it establish that the animal had been abandoned, rejected or injured. The location was not identified in the reporting reviewed.
The Washington Post reported on the original footage and the public reaction. The video was later deleted, and Jones’s Instagram account was reported as private during the backlash, making independent verification of the full original context more difficult. ABC News also reported on the video and its aftermath.
Why wildlife experts objected
The central criticism was not simply that Jones touched a wild animal. It was that she removed a dependent young wombat while its mother was visibly present, apparently for a piece of social-media content rather than because the joey had clearly been injured or orphaned.
Tania Bishop, a veterinarian with WIRES, told ABC that there would be no legal justification for taking the joey in the circumstances shown unless the mother was dead or there was a genuine rescue need. The New South Wales government similarly advises the public to leave sick, injured or orphaned native animals to licensed wildlife rehabilitators or veterinarians, warning that untrained intervention can cause additional harm.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Wombat joeys are not independent in the way a fully grown animal is. According to WIRES’ wombat information, young wombats normally remain in the pouch for approximately seven to 10 months. Orphaned joeys raised by people may require care until roughly 18 months before they are ready for release preparation. Those general facts do not establish the particular joey’s age or health, but they explain why unnecessary handling can be a serious welfare concern.
When rescuing a wombat is appropriate
A wild animal should not be picked up merely because it is close to a road, approachable or visually appealing. A young wombat may be with, or still dependent on, its mother even when the situation looks unusual to a passerby.
There is an important difference between removing a healthy-looking joey from a living mother and responding to a genuine emergency. NSW’s rescued-wombat treatment and care guidelines say that a dead female wombat’s pouch should be checked for a joey. That is different from taking a joey away from a living mother simply because it is accessible.
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If a wombat appears injured, orphaned or in immediate danger, the safer response is to:
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- Observe before acting. Look for obvious danger, injury or a dead mother, but do not assume that a nearby joey is orphaned.
- Contact an authorized wildlife rescuer or veterinarian. Describe the location and what you can see, and follow the professional’s instructions.
- Do not feed the animal or attempt to raise it yourself. Incorrect food, temperature or handling can be harmful.
- If a professional confirms that temporary handling is necessary, keep the animal warm, dark and quiet while waiting for help. This is emergency advice for a legitimately rescued animal—not a general invitation to capture wildlife.
The exact legal rules depend on where an incident occurs. NSW government guidance identifies wombats as protected native animals and says harming a wombat is an offence unless the person has the required licence. It also says trapping and relocating wombats is not permitted because wombats are territorial and relocation can expose them to harassment or death by resident wombats. Because the location of Jones’s video was not established in the sources reviewed, those NSW provisions should not automatically be presented as proof of a criminal violation in this particular case.
Jones’s explanation and apology
After leaving Australia, Jones said she had seen the mother and joey on a road and feared the young wombat might be hit by a vehicle. In her account, she picked up the joey to determine whether it was sick or injured, ran because she feared the mother might attack her, and returned the joey immediately.
Jones acknowledged that she had not handled the situation properly and apologized for the distress caused. Her statement is her explanation of the event; it does not independently prove that the intervention was necessary, that the joey was in immediate danger or that the mother and joey were safely reunited.
News reports described Jones’s online profiles as identifying her as a wildlife biologist, environmental scientist, outdoor enthusiast and hunter. Those descriptions should not be treated as independently verified professional credentials based on the reporting available here.
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The video prompted intense criticism in Australia, including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who called the episode an outrage and contrasted the gentle nature commonly associated with wombats with the idea of provoking a more dangerous animal.
The office of Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed that officials were reviewing Jones’s visa and indicated that her ability to return to Australia could be affected. Jones left Australia voluntarily on Friday, March 14, 2025.
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She was not deported. At the time ABC reported her departure, it had not received reports that charges had been brought against her over the wombat video. A visa review and public condemnation are not the same thing as a criminal conviction.
Separate Wyoming charges involving Samantha Strable
A later development concerned Jones’s other reported name, Samantha Strable, but it was separate from the Australian wombat incident.
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In November 2025, reporting based on court records said Strable had been booked into the Sublette County Jail and faced eight misdemeanor charges in Wyoming:
- Six counts involving allegedly false statements connected to Wyoming hunting or fishing licenses;
- One count of taking wildlife without a license; and
- One count of nonresident hunting without a guide in a wilderness area.
Cowboy State Daily reported on the Wyoming allegations. The charges concern alleged residency and hunting-license conduct, not the wombat video, and they must be described as allegations unless resolved by a court.
A May 2026 report said a three-day trial was expected in June 2026. No reliable public report available for this article confirmed a verdict, plea, dismissal or sentencing by August 11, 2026. It would therefore be inaccurate to say that Strable was convicted or acquitted without a newly verified court record or authoritative local report.
What the controversy actually establishes
| Claim | What the available reporting supports |
|---|---|
| Jones permanently stole the wombat | Not established. The video appears to show a temporary separation, followed by the joey being placed back near the roadside. |
| The mother rejected or abandoned the joey | Not established. The clip ended before a reunion could be confirmed. |
| The joey was injured | Not established. Jones said she was checking whether it was sick or injured, but the footage and reporting do not independently confirm an injury. |
| Jones was deported | Incorrect according to ABC’s reporting. She left Australia voluntarily on March 14, 2025. |
| She was charged over the wombat video | No charges over the video had been reported at the time of ABC’s account of her departure. |
| The Wyoming case proves wrongdoing in Australia | No. The later Wyoming charges are separate allegations involving hunting and license conduct. |
Why the wording matters
“Stealing a baby wombat” captures the outrage that made the clip viral, but it also implies a completed and possibly permanent abduction. The more precise description is that the video appears to show Jones picking up and temporarily separating a wombat joey from its mother while filming.
That narrower wording does not excuse the conduct. The mother was apparently present, the joey appeared distressed, and the footage did not show a rescue professional, a confirmed injury or a documented reunion. It also avoids claiming facts—such as abandonment, permanent removal or criminal guilt—that the available evidence does not establish.
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Further reading on wombat welfare
Readers who want species context should start with WIRES’ information about wombats and the NSW government’s guidance on living with wombats. Both are more useful than treating a viral video as a wildlife-handling tutorial.
The practical lesson is simple: do not handle a healthy wild animal for photographs or content. If an animal is visibly injured, orphaned or in immediate danger, contact a qualified wildlife rescue organization or veterinarian and follow professional instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Sam Jones kidnap the baby wombat?
The available footage does not establish a permanent kidnapping. It appears to show Jones temporarily picking up and separating a wombat joey from its mother, then putting it back near the roadside. The video ended before a reunion was confirmed.
Was Sam Jones deported from Australia?
No. ABC reported that Jones left Australia voluntarily on March 14, 2025. Australian officials had reviewed her visa, but that was not the same as deportation.
Was Jones charged over the wombat video?
ABC had not received reports of charges being brought over the wombat video when it reported her departure. Later Wyoming charges involving Samantha Strable were separate allegations concerning hunting and wildlife-license conduct.
What should someone do if they find an apparently orphaned wombat?
Do not automatically pick it up. Keep people, pets and traffic away if possible, observe from a safe distance, and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, wildlife rescue organization or veterinarian. Handle the animal only if a qualified professional advises that it is necessary.
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The viral wombat clip supports a serious criticism of unnecessary wildlife handling, but not every claim made around it. Jones appears to have temporarily removed a joey from the vicinity of its mother, and experts said that was inappropriate without a genuine rescue need. The footage did not prove permanent theft, abandonment, injury or a failed reunion—and Jones was not deported. The responsible response to wildlife in danger is to call trained rescuers, not to handle the animal for content.
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