US influencer snatches baby wombat from its mother - is 'heinous act' illegal?

It is worth noting Scotland's stance on separating an animal from its mother after a "dreadful" incident in Australia

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A US hunting influencer is under investigation after she was filmed snatching a baby wombat from its distressed mother in a "heinous" video.

Samantha Strable, or Sam Jones as she is known online, possibly violated her Australian visa following the "callous" and "dreadful" incident. In the now-deleted footage, originally uploaded to Instagram, Jones can be heard boasting.

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"I caught a baby wombat", she exclaims, while the young animal screeches in an attempt to escape. The mother wombat, clearly agitated, chases after Jones as the joey's cries continue.

Jones eventually released the wombat close to its mother by the roadside. Australia's Immigration Minister condemned Jones' actions, questioning whether she should be deported for breaching her visa conditions. Initially, Jones defended herself, insisting that she held the wombat for merely one minute and did not cause it any harm.

The Australian Prime Minister even weighed in on the matter, telling reporters at a press briefing: "Take a baby crocodile from his mother and see how you go there." An online petition supporting the deportation of Jones and barring her return to Australia has gathered momentum, exceeding 20,000 signatures since its launch yesterday (March 12).

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Wombats, which are native to Australia, are a legally protected species across the country. Baby wombats share a strong bond with their mothers, and any separation can be distressing and harmful, conservationists say.

"Snatching a screaming baby wombat from their mother is not just appalling, it's very possibly illegal under state or national laws," said Suzanne Milthorpe from World Animal Protection Australia, in a statement online.

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Australia prohibits people from harming or taking native wildlife, leading to accusations that Jones broke the law. It is only allowed if the joey needs help because its mother has died, wildlife veterinarian Tania Bishop told ABC News.

Official approvals are required to capture and handle wildlife. Engaging in these activities without the necessary permits is typically illegal. These regulations are to safeguard wildlife from harm and protect humans as well.

For instance, son of the late Steve Irwin, the wildlife educator and TV personality known as "The Crocodile Hunter," Bob, recently called for harsher penalties for influencers entering crocodile territory after many close calls.

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Scotland does not have one clear law pertaining to every creature when it comes to separating an animal from its mother. When it comes to pets, in this case cats, the Scottish Government states no kitten under eight weeks may be permanently separated from its biological mother unless the mother dies or there is a health risk to the kitten.

Elsewhere, the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states separating wildlife from their mothers can cause stress and endanger both the mother and her young.

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NatureScot also instructs people never to separate wildlife from their mothers.

In Scotland, you can help avoid separating wildlife from their mothers by keeping your distance, avoiding sudden movements, following local signs, keeping dogs under control, avoiding visiting breeding sites during pupping seasons as disruption can be harmful to mothers with pups, and reporting disturbances to Police Scotland on 101.

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Focusing on birds, Andy Douse, NatureScot ornithologist, said: "There are extraordinary examples of mothering behaviour in almost all bird species in Scotland... it’s often the mum who spends the most or all the time on the nest."

Describing the importance of the mother and child relationship in the animal kingdom, Andy added: "There’s a lot of other incredible behaviour which shows the lengths female birds will go to protect and nourish their young.”

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