An American influencer who sparked outrage across Australia after snatching a baby wombat from its mother has spoken out.
Sam Jones has now addressed the controversy in a lengthy statement shared to Instagram today (14 March), insisting she is not a 'villain'.
The Montana-based content creator, who touts herself as a 'wildlife biologist and environmental scientist', sparked fury on social media after sharing the shocking video.
Take a look:
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Jones has since fled Australia in wake of the backlash - which saw citizens call for her to be deported - and has now shared her side of the story, while taking swipes at Aussie officials who have slammed her.
The influencer has insisted that she was in fact trying to be a Good Samaritan after finding the animals on the side of the road and noticing they were 'not moving', which left her 'extremely concerned'.
She claimed she only pulled over to ensure the mother and child were out of harm's way, adding that she picked the joey up in a panic as she was alarmed when it 'did not move or run off'.
Her statement, which spanned three pages, said: "I was concerned it may have been sick or injured and made a snap judgement to pick up the joey and see if this was the case.
"I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me. The snap judgement I made in these moments was never from a place of harm or stealing a joey.
"While I was unbelievably excited to see such an amazing animal, I looked it over quickly and immediately returned it to its mother."
Jones claimed that she 'ensured' the baby was reunited with it's parent and says she watched them walk off together away from the road.
Her statement continued: "I have done a great deal of reflection on this situation and have realised that I did not handle this situation as best as I should have."
However, she maintains that her 'only intent' was to stop the wombats from potentially being struck by a care and checking that the joey didn't need any 'immediate care'.
"I have learned from this situation, and am truly sorry for the distress I have caused," the influencer went on. "I want to make it absolutely clear that this was never about social media or getting likes.
"This was not staged, nor was it done for entertainment. In my excitement and concern, I acted too quickly and then failed to provide necessary context to viewers online.
"Am I a villain? Things, dear reader, are not as they seem. 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."
Aussie politicians, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, slammed Jones stunt and said it was an 'outrage'.
Before Jones left of her own accord, the country's Home Affairs minister, Tony Burke, said that his department was looking into revoking her visa in response to the footage.
Explaining they would investigate 'whether immigration law has been breached', Burke previously said: "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. I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don't expect she will return."
Jones has now hit back at the Australian government with a string of scathing allegations, claiming that it 'allows and permits the slaughter of wombats', which are a legally protected species.
"Thousands each year are shot, poisoned to suffer, and trapped legally," the American claimed. "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. Why, might you ask, do they kill them? Well, to feed you.
"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 salads. 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.
"Your government further 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."
Jones also made direct reference to Australia's PM, adding: "[Animal] carcasses are then left on your public lands to rot. Your Snowy River and Kosciuszko National Park brumbys are being slaughtered by the thousands on your dime - speak to your Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about that."
Further down, she went on to say: "While the Prime Minister wishes harm on me for picking up a wombat, I implore you to take a good, hard look at what is currently being done in Australia surrounding the real issues it faces, the lack of power for tens of thousands of Aussies and the treatment of its native wildlife.
"Then, decide for yourself, if I, a person who certainly makes mistakes, am really your villain."
Olivia Burke