{"id":11200,"date":"2026-08-11T14:14:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:14:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=11200"},"modified":"2026-08-11T14:14:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:14:25","slug":"u-s-influencer-faced-tough-action-in-australia-after-picking-up-a-baby-wombat-from-its-distressed-mother-for-a-viral-reel-an-important-lesson-for-wildlife-loving-travellers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=11200","title":{"rendered":"U.S. influencer faced tough action in Australia after picking up a baby wombat from its distressed mother for a viral &#8216;reel&#8217;; an important lesson for wildlife-loving travellers |"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133154679,imgsize-84903,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/baby-joey.jpg\" alt=\"U.S. influencer faced tough action in Australia after picking up a baby wombat from its distressed mother for a viral 'reel'; an important lesson for wildlife-loving travellers\" title=\"U.S. influencer with Baby Joey (Instagram)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"U.S. influencer with Baby Joey (Instagram)\">U.S. influencer with Baby Joey (Instagram)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A wildlife video surfaced on social media has left the world furious. Also a lesson for travellers. The footage shows a famous US influencer Sam Jones, aka Samantha Strable, snatching away a baby wombat (joey) from a roadside from the mother.<!-- --> The video is captured by her fellow male traveller who can be heard laughing behind the camera at the distressed mother wombat that followed behind. The incident is clearly not funny and looks emotional. It has triggered fierce criticism in Australia, with wildlife experts warning that approaching, chasing or handling wild animals for photographs or videos or reels can cause serious issues.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"3\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">The incident<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"5\"\/>The incident quickly became an immigration controversy. Australia\u2019s then Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Jones\u2019 visa conditions were reviewed after the video went viral. <!-- -->She left Australia voluntarily while the review was still underway.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"11\"\/>But beyond the social-media controversy, the episode also caught attention to one of Australia\u2019s most unusual native animals; wombat.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Why wombats are so special<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Wombats\" msid=\"133154743\" width=\"\" title=\"Wombats mother and joey (Canva)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-133154743\/wombats.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wombats mother and joey (Canva)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/>Wombats are among Australia\u2019s most distinctive marsupials. The animal seen in the viral footage appeared to be a bare-nosed or common wombat (Vombatus ursinus). It is a species native to southeastern Australia. Despite their cuddly appearance, wombats are wild creatures. They have powerful bodies and strong digging abilities and spend much of their lives around underground burrows.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"21\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Where to spot them<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>As per Australian Museum, bare-nosed wombats live in temperate, forested parts of southeastern Australia and can be spotted in:<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>New South Wales<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>Victoria<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/>South Australia<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"31\"\/>Tasmania<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"33\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Separating a joey from its mother is cruelty <\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>Wildlife experts said the separation itself could cause considerable distress to both the young wombat and its mother. <!-- -->Researchers writing about the incident noted that the encounter would have caused stress levels to rise sharply for both mother and the joey.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>Australian wildlife authorities are similarly emphatic that members of the public should not attempt to handle native animals unless specifically instructed by trained professionals.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">What it means for travellers<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"44\"\/>The message is loud and clear; if you encounter a wombat in the wild, watch it, don&#8217;t grab it! Else you\u2019ll be in trouble.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"47\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Where can travellers spot wombats in Australia?<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"49\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Wombats joey (Canva)\" msid=\"133154752\" width=\"\" title=\"Wombats joey (Canva)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-133154752\/wombats-joey-canva.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Wombats joey (Canva)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"51\"\/>One of the best places for a wombat encounter is Maria Island National Park in Tasmania. Tourism Australia highlights Maria Island as an exceptional place to see wombats, with its population so abundant that visitors may encounter them while walking around the island.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"53\"\/>Victoria is another famous place for wombat lovers. Wilsons Promontory National Park, Mount Buffalo National Park, Baw Baw National Park and the Yarra Ranges offer maximum chances.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"55\"\/>For tourists, the most memorable wildlife encounter may therefore be the one where nothing is touched at all. Touching, picking, snatching an animal just for an Insta reel or picture is not right and should be avoided.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/life-style\/travel\/things-to-do\/u-s-influencer-faced-tough-action-in-australia-after-picking-up-a-baby-wombat-from-its-distressed-mother-for-a-viral-reel-an-important-lesson-for-wildlife-loving-travellers\/articleshow\/133154391.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S. influencer with Baby Joey (Instagram) A wildlife video surfaced on social media has left the world furious. Also a lesson for travellers. The footage shows a famous US influencer Sam Jones, aka Samantha Strable, snatching away a baby wombat (joey) from a roadside from the mother. The video is captured by her fellow male [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"U.S. influencer with Baby Joey (Instagram) A wildlife video surfaced on social media has left the world furious. Also a lesson for travellers. The footage shows a famous US influencer Sam Jones, aka Samantha Strable, snatching away a baby wombat (joey) from a roadside from the mother. The video is captured by her fellow male [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/baby-joey.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}