Officials have revealed that an influencer shown in a viral video snatching a baby wombat from its mother has left Australia.
Montana-based content creator Sam Jones experienced the frustration of an entire nation after what appeared to be a viral stunt didn't pay off.
Jones, who also goes by Samantha Strable, shared a video of herself laughing as she picked up a baby wombat from the side of the road and ran towards her vehicle, while the joey's mother is seen frantically following her.
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As she held the visibly-agitated animal up to the camera, Jones said while grinning: "I caught a baby wombat!"
The influencer was seemingly aware that this wasn’t going to plan as the wombat could be heard making hissing noises. People who know their animals remarked that this was a clear sign it was distressed.
Jones eventually relinquished the wombat saying: “OK, mom is right there...and she is p**sed. Alright, let's let him go."
She insists she picked the joey up because she thought it was sick and immediately returned it to its mother.
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But as you can imagine... this didn’t go down well when it hit the internet.
Politicians began weighing in and made it clear that Jones wasn’t welcome in the country.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a dig at Jones and said the act was an ‘outrage’.
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He said: “Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.
“Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother.”
After the video went viral on social media, the federal government began taking steps to see Jones deported under the claim that she had violated Australia’s biosecurity and animal welfare laws.
However, Jones ended up leaving of her own free will.
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Minister Tony Burke spoke to the Daily Mail and joked: “There's never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia.”
However, it is not clear whether the government would have had grounds to terminate Jones' visa, as she has not been charged with a crime or deemed a threat to the nation.
At the time Australia's Home Affairs minister Tony Burke said: “Either way, given the level of scrutiny that will happen if she ever applies for a visa again, I’ll be surprised if she even bothers. I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don't expect she will return.”
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Jones has since defended her actions, writing in a lengthy statement on Instagram: "I was concerned it may have been sick or injured and made a snap judgement to pick up the joey and see if this was the case.
"I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me. The snap judgement I made in these moments was never from a place of harm or stealing a joey.
"While I was unbelievably excited to see such an amazing animal, I looked it over quickly and immediately returned it to its mother."
Nevertheless, Jones said she realises she 'did not handle this situation as best as I should have' and was 'truly sorry for the distress I have caused'.
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She also insisted 'this was never about social media or getting likes'.
Topics: Australia, Animals, Social Media, Viral
Gerrard Kaonga