Baby wombat thief: Australian PM slams US influencer - 'Next time take a crocodile!'

Wildlife experts said the actions could have physically harmed the joey

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed an American influencer who was filmed snatching a baby wombat from its mother, suggesting she try her luck with a crocodile.

"To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage," Prime Minister Albanese.

"I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there."

The viral video, which has since been deleted, shows American influencer Sam Jones picking up a baby wombat from the side of a road at night and running with it as the distressed joey screeches.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed the video

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"I caught a baby wombat!" Jones exclaims in the footage, while a man behind the camera laughs.

The mother wombat can be seen chasing after Jones, prompting her to say: "OK, mama's right there and she is pissed, let's let him go."

Jones, who describes herself as a "wildlife biologist and environmental scientist", has since made her social media accounts private.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said his department was reviewing Jones's visa to determine if she had breached any conditions of her stay.

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The baby wombat was heard screeching (file pic)

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He said: "I can't wait to see the back of this individual..Given the level of scrutiny that will happen if she ever applies for a visa again, I'll be surprised if she even bothers."

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong also condemned the video, describing it as "pretty dreadful". An online petition supporting Jones's deportation has already gathered more than 10,500 signatures.

Wildlife veterinarian Dr Tania Bishop told Australian media that Jones's actions could have physically harmed the joey.

"When she's running, it's not supported underneath, and wombats are incredibly solid," Dr Bishop said. "There's every chance she could have fractured the upper humerus, or caused damage to the shoulders."

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia Penny Wong slammed the video

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Wombats are protected by law under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Jones addressed the backlash before deleting the video, claiming the incident was harmless.

"For everyone that's worried and unhappy, the baby was carefully held for ONE minute in total and then released back to mum. They wandered back off into the bush together completely unharmed," she wrote.

"I didn't think I would be able to catch it in the first place, and took an opportunity to appreciate a really incredible animal up close. I don't ever capture wildlife that will be harmed by my doing so."

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