Influencer who stole baby wombat from its mother issues scathing statement saying 'something bigger at play'
An influencer who snatched a baby wombat from its mother has taken another shot at Australia in wake of the backlash she received.
Sam Jones has issued a new scathing statement days after fleeing the country.
The US woman, who describes herself as a 'outdoor enthusiast, hunter and wildlife biologist', has accused the government of 'calling for her head' due to comments made by the likes of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
And Jones has made another slew of allegations about the treatment of animals in Australia in a pre-recorded video shared with Channel 10 talk show The Project.
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The 24-year-old, based in Montana, was set to chat to hosts Hamish Macdonald, Sarah Harris and Sam Taunton on Sunday (16 March), but she supposedly chickened out at the last minute.
Take a look at this:
Instead, she sent over a clip in which she discussed 'taking responsibility for her actions' after footage of her encounter with two wombats went viral for all the wrong reasons.
"It was an incredible mistake, and there hasn’t been a moment I haven’t regretted it," Jones said of her decision to pick the joey up, which came much to the distress of the animal's mother.
Still, the American doesn't exactly seem ready to wave the white flag and stop gunning for Aussie officials who criticised her actions last week.
Prime Minister Albanese said the video of Jones was an 'outrage', while adding that the 'so-called influencer' should have tried taking on an animal 'that can actually fight back'.
In response, she called out the leader, 62, by name in a three page statement sharing her side of the story, which also accused politicians of being hypocrites.
Jones claimed the government 'allows and permits the slaughter of wombats', which are a legally protected species, as well as alleging it spends 'tens of millions of taxpayer dollars annually to fly around in helicopters and shoot beautiful horses, deer, and pigs out its windows'.
She doubled down on this comment in her latest statement to The Project, as the influencer said: "There's something much bigger at play here, and it would be a disservice to ignore it.
"If this situation has proven anything, it's proven that Australians care deeply about their wildlife, and that is something I intensely admire."
Jones then claimed that 'the Australian government issues permits for the killing of thousands and thousands of wombats across Australia, along with millions of Kangaroos'.
"The same government that has been calling for my head is the one that spends millions of your tax dollars slaughtering Australian animals," she added.
The Project hosts didn't seem to impressed with what Jones had to say, or by the fact she'd allegedly flaked on the interview in favour of providing a video statement.
Macdonald told viewers: "We were all here earlier this afternoon to do an interview with her and ask her questions. She pulled out of that and instead provided that video.
"I think, frankly, it's pathetic, given what's happened. Obviously, no one condones violence or threats of violence or any the terrible things that have have been thrown her way.
"But honestly, to say you are genuinely sorry but not be willing to explain yourself and [then] point the finger at the Australian government... I think it is pretty lousy."
Harris branded Jones' response to the situation 'infuriating' and branded her allegations about the treatment of animals in Australia as 'untrue', saying: " [Her] statement is riddled with misinformation."
"The reality is there's been a strong public response," Macdonald said. "I think Australians are proud of their wildlife.
"And we do have land management practices that do occur, but there are huge penalties if you slaughter native wildlife or mistreatment them and this individual has heard loudly and clearly from the Australian population."
Harris added that hefty fines and even prison sentences can be handed out for those convicted of killing wombats.
It is an offence to harm a wombat in Australia unless a permit is obtained from the government.
According to Australia's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning explains: "It is an offence to kill, take, control or harm wildlife under the Wildlife Act without authorisation.
"It is also an offence to use poisons to kill, destroy or take wildlife. The maximum penalty for illegally hunting, taking or destroying wildlife ranges from $8,059 to $38,685 and/or six to 24 months’ imprisonment."
Topics: Animals, Australia, Politics, World News, Social Media
Olivia Burke