Influencer films herself grabbing baby wombat from mother. Video / via Instagram
A second video has emerged appearing to show US influencer who was caught on camera snatching a baby wombat away from its mother handling another live Australian animal.
The new clip video was shared on social media last month and appears to show Samantha Strable, known online as Sam Jones, stroking an echidna’s spiny back and touching its paw before placing it back in the dirt.
“What kind of crazy creature is this?” she can be heard saying. “Well, it’s an echidna, one of only two egg-laying mammal species in the world.”
It is unclear where the footage was filmed. A wire fence can be seen in the background, but not one that would contain an animal as small as an echidna.
American hunting influencer Sam Strable with a wild echidna. Photo / @samstrays_somewhere
“Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother. See how you go there.”
Anthony Albanese, Australia's Prime Minister, condemned the influencer who snatched a baby wombat. Photo / Getty Images
Strable sparked fury in Australia after being filmed chasing a baby wombat to the side of a road at night before picking it up and posing for a photo.
Some online communities called for Strable to be deported for her behaviour.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke earlier confirmed his department was working through the conditions of Strable’s current visa to determine whether immigration laws had 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.
“I can’t wait for Australia to see the back of this individual. I don’t expect she will return.”
In the video, posted to Strable’s Instagram account, she can be seen scooping up the baby as its distressed mother gives chase.
Strable removed the wombat from its distressed mother who chased after her. Photo / @samstrays_somewhere
An Australian man is heard laughing in the background.
Strable then holds the baby wombat up as it makes screeching noises.
“Okay, Mamma is right there and she is pi**ed,” Strable says, before returning the baby to the side of the road.
The location of the since-deleted video is not clear.
The Wombat Protection Society of Australia has decried Strable’s actions.
“We are expressing shock and concern over the actions of a tourist who mishandled a wombat joey in an apparent snatch for ‘social media likes’,” the charity group said.
“The individual appeared to have no understanding of wombat behaviour or the severe stress caused by human interference and separation from its mother.
