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| Baby wombat-snatching US influencer at risk of losing Australian visa | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Video footage, described as ‘callous’ and ‘pretty dreadful’, showed Sam Jones grabbing the joey from its mother at night | |
| A US hunting influencer who shared video of herself snatching a baby wombat away from its mother is being investigated for a potential breach of her Australian visa. | A US hunting influencer who shared video of herself snatching a baby wombat away from its mother is being investigated for a potential breach of her Australian visa. |
| The footage, with scenes described as “callous” by the RSPCA and “pretty dreadful” by the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, showed the Montana-based influencer Sam Jones grabbing the wombat joey at night as it was walking with its mother. | The footage, with scenes described as “callous” by the RSPCA and “pretty dreadful” by the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, showed the Montana-based influencer Sam Jones grabbing the wombat joey at night as it was walking with its mother. |
| “I can’t wait to see the back of this individual,” the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said in a statement on Thursday, in response to the recording. | “I can’t wait to see the back of this individual,” the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said in a statement on Thursday, in response to the recording. |
| Burke said the home affairs department was “working through the conditions” on Jones’ visa to determine “whether immigration law has been breached”. | Burke said the home affairs department was “working through the conditions” on Jones’ visa to determine “whether immigration law has been breached”. |
| “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,” he 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,” he said. |
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| In the film, Jones is shown running down the road towards a parked vehicle, from which she is being filmed, while clutching the joey. | In the film, Jones is shown running down the road towards a parked vehicle, from which she is being filmed, while clutching the joey. |
| “I caught a baby wombat,” Jones says to the camera as the joey hisses and screeches. | “I caught a baby wombat,” Jones says to the camera as the joey hisses and screeches. |
| “OK, momma’s right there and she is pissed,” Jones then says, as the joey’s mother moves towards her. Jones then puts the joey back by the side of the road. | “OK, momma’s right there and she is pissed,” Jones then says, as the joey’s mother moves towards her. Jones then puts the joey back by the side of the road. |
| The footage has been widely shared and condemned on social media. | The footage has been widely shared and condemned on social media. |
| The footage, which did not indicate any location information or when it was filmed, was shared on the Instagram account “samstrays_somewhere” belonging to Jones, an “outdoor enthusiast & hunter”. | The footage, which did not indicate any location information or when it was filmed, was shared on the Instagram account “samstrays_somewhere” belonging to Jones, an “outdoor enthusiast & hunter”. |
| Jones had been sharing pictures and videos of her trip around Australia, including a video of her picking up an echidna at an unknown location and showing it to the camera. | Jones had been sharing pictures and videos of her trip around Australia, including a video of her picking up an echidna at an unknown location and showing it to the camera. |
| But after the wombat video went viral, attracting strong criticism, the account has been turned to private. The Guardian attempted to contact Jones through Instagram but received no comment. | But after the wombat video went viral, attracting strong criticism, the account has been turned to private. The Guardian attempted to contact Jones through Instagram but received no comment. |
| A TikTok account with the same handle was also deleted. | A TikTok account with the same handle was also deleted. |
| Australia has three wombat species, two of which are threatened. | Australia has three wombat species, two of which are threatened. |
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| The species caught by Jones was identified by one expert as a common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat, which are not threatened. | The species caught by Jones was identified by one expert as a common wombat, also known as a bare-nosed wombat, which are not threatened. |
| Dr Di Evans, a senior scientific officer at RSPCA Australia, said the video showed a “blatant disregard” for native wildlife. | Dr Di Evans, a senior scientific officer at RSPCA Australia, said the video showed a “blatant disregard” for native wildlife. |
| “The distress caused by the callous act is obvious with the joey screeching for their mother and the mother being extremely anxious,” she said. | “The distress caused by the callous act is obvious with the joey screeching for their mother and the mother being extremely anxious,” she said. |
| “Removing a joey from their mother is extremely distressing and any separation is harmful. The video shows this strong maternal bond.” | “Removing a joey from their mother is extremely distressing and any separation is harmful. The video shows this strong maternal bond.” |
| Evans said there were “many appropriate ways” that tourists could observe the country’s beautiful wildlife through reputable and licensed zoos and sanctuaries. | Evans said there were “many appropriate ways” that tourists could observe the country’s beautiful wildlife through reputable and licensed zoos and sanctuaries. |
| When Wong was asked about the footage on Seven’s morning television show Sunrise, she described it as looking “pretty dreadful”. | When Wong was asked about the footage on Seven’s morning television show Sunrise, she described it as looking “pretty dreadful”. |
| “I think everyone who would have seen that would have thought, look leave the baby wombat alone, leave it with its mum,” Wong said. | “I think everyone who would have seen that would have thought, look leave the baby wombat alone, leave it with its mum,” Wong said. |
| A spokesperson for the federal environment department said it had been notified about the footage but would not comment while inquiries were ongoing. | A spokesperson for the federal environment department said it had been notified about the footage but would not comment while inquiries were ongoing. |