Baby wombat furore: US influencer’s location revealed

The hiding place of the American influencer who sparked global outrage after she grabbed a baby wombat from its mother has emerged, amid allegations she sent disturbing texts.

The American influencer who sparked global outrage after she was filmed grabbing a baby wombat and carrying it away from its mother is believed to be hiding out in Thailand.

Samantha Strable copped a huge backlash after she shared a now-deleted video showing how she manhandled the joey in front of its distraught mother.

The baby wombat could be heard hissing in distress while a man, believed to be Ms Strable’s boyfriend, laughed as he filmed her.

The 24-year-old quickly left Australia after apologising for the incident, claming she was trying to move the animal from the roadside to prevent it from being hit by a vehicle.

US influencer Samantha Strable takes a baby wombat from its mother in Australia. Picture: Instagram/SamJones

Samantha Strable can be seen picking up the baby wombat on the side of the road. Picture: Instagram/SamJones

Despite previous reports that the Montana-based influencer had returned to the US, Ms Strable and her partner fled to Thailand, the Daily Mail reported.

Ms Strable is believed to have sent disturbing messages to a friend, detailing her plans.

“On my flight to Thailand today, guess what I saw?” she wrote to her friend. “A bunch of old, bald Aussie dudes flying to Thailand.”

‘They’re [the public] not going to scrutinise them for going abroad to have sex with children but I’m the POS (piece of s***).”

The former friend believes Ms Strable, also known as Sam Jones, is on a pre-planned holiday in South-East Asia with her American family, the Daily Mail reported.

INFLUENCER FIRES BACK AT AUSSIES

In an apology posted to Instagram on Saturday, Ms Strable claimed she had been trying to protect the wombat and hit back at Australians.

“Let’s start with wombats – the Australian government allows and permits the slaughter of wombats,” she wrote.

“Thousands each year are shot, poisoned to suffer and trapped legally. Landowners rip up wombat burrows with heavy machinery, poison them with fumigation and shoot them whenever they can. Quietly, of course, so as not to face the wrath that has come upon me.”

She then said this occurs so farmers can “feed” Aussies.

“The landowner is trying to survive, to raise you the lamb for your dinner table, the grapes for your wine and the produce for your salad,” she wrote.

“Wombats get in the way of this, through putting their holes and tunnels across the land, creating hazard for livestock and turning up the ground to eat roots. The wombat knows no better, as it too, is merely trying to survive”.

Ms Strable also took a shot at the Albanese government, which she said “spends tens of millions of taxpayer dollars annually to fly around in helicopters and shoot beautiful horses, deer, and pigs out its windows”.

“A swift death is often not afforded to these animals,” she wrote.

Writing on social media, Ms Strable earlier denied she was a “villain”.

She also revealed she had received thousands of death threats over the social media post.

“Am I a villain - things, dear reader, are not as they seem,” she wrote.

“Over holding a wombat, thousands threaten my life. Let me be clear; these same people ought to understand the reality of Australia today. For the readers that are so angered by my mistaken attempt to help and that I am a hunter – do not be blind to your country.”

Before she fled the country, Minister for Immigration Tony Burke confirmed last Thursday that Ms Strable’s visa was under review, with the department considering whether any laws have been breached.

“I can’t wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don’t expect she will return,” he said.

All Australian animals are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Picture: Instagram/SamJones

The viral footage showed Ms Strable capturing the wombat on the side of the road at night, as her partner filmed and laughed uncontrollably.

As she ran across the road holding the terrified animal, its feet dangling in the air, Ms Strable’s partner could be heard saying, “Look at the mother, it’s chasing after her!”

The influencer then held up the distressed baby wombat for a photo, smiling at the camera and captioning the clip that it was her “dream” to hold one.

As the mother appeared next to her, Ms Strable said, “Okay, mama is right there, and she is pissed, let’s let him go”.

The filmer replied, “Nah, he’s all right,” as she placed it back on the ground.

Ms Strable added in the caption that “the baby and mum were safely united”.

However, the backlash was swift, with online communities quickly condemning her behaviour.

“It’s not just the entitlement, it’s the disrespect,” wrote one user on the r/australia subreddit after the video was re-shared there.

“That her first instinct isn’t one of awe and gratitude to see this animal in the wild, but to rush in and greedily exploit the moment for personal gain — regardless of the trauma it inflicts on anything and anyone else — speaks volumes about her character. Absolutely shameful.”

Others pointed out that she claims to be a “wildlife biologist” and “should have known better.”

ALBO SLAMS INFLUENCER

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also let loose on the American influencer, suggesting she try to steal a baby crocodile next time.

“I would 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,” Mr Albanese said.

“Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother. See how you go then.”

Ms Strable has turned her public Instagram account, where she boasts more than 92,000 followers, to private. She has also since switched her TikTok account to private.

However, before she deleted the video, she addressed the backlash in the Instagram comments, writing: “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.

“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.”

All Australian animals are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Penalties for animal cruelty offences vary by state, with fines reaching as high as $235,600 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations, along with potential imprisonment of up to seven years.

Originally published as Baby wombat furore: US influencer’s location revealed