In short:
An American influencer who was widely criticised for filming herself grabbing a baby wombat and carrying it away from its mother has apologised.
Sam Jones says she was trying to remove the animal from the side of a roadway, where it might have been hit by a passing vehicle.
In her apology, the influencer also took aim the federal government, saying it allows Australian farmers to kill wombats and other animals in the process of harvesting and producing food.
An American influencer, widely criticised for picking up a baby wombat and carrying it away from its mother, has apologised, saying she was trying to move the animal from the roadside to prevent it from being hit by a vehicle.
The influencer, who is known as Sam Jones but also uses the name Samantha Strable, left Australia on Friday after earlier posting an Instagram reel of herself on an unidentified road picking up the joey and running towards the camera with the marsupial in her arms as its mother chased after her.
The footage featured the joey squirming and screeching before the influencer put it back on the road. It showed the animal walking back into the scrub.
US influencer Sam Jones has apologised after receiving intense criticism for taking a joey wombat away from its mother. (Instagram: samstrays)
In an apology posted to Instagram on Saturday, Ms Jones said she had been trying to protect the wombat and said she has since received threats against her life by people angered by her actions.
"When we found the mother and joey on a road, not moving, I was extremely concerned. As wombats are so often hit on Australian roads, I stopped to ensure they got off the road safely and didn't get hit," Ms Jones said.
Wombat-snatching influencer leaves Australia
Photo shows A US influencer holding a joey wombat that is in distress with its mouth open
"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 … I looked it over quickly and immediately returned it to its mother.
"Over holding a wombat, thousands threaten my life.
"I have done a great deal of reflection on this situation and have realized that I did not handle this situation as best as I should have.
"I have learned from this situation, and am truly sorry for the distress I have caused."
The influencer deleted the original video after animal welfare advocates criticised her over her treatment of the joey.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke also confirmed this week that officials were reviewing the conditions of Ms Jones's visa to determine whether immigration law had been breached, but she then left Australia of her own accord to return to the United States.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also added to the criticism of Ms Jones's actions, describing the video as an "outrage".
"They are gentle, lovely creatures … I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she should try some other Australian animals, maybe she should try a crocodile," he said on Friday.
"Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there. Take another animal that can actually fight back rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother."
Ms Jones filmed herself picking the joey up off the side of an unidentified road and running away with it while the animal screeched. (Instagram: samstrays_somewhere)
In her statement on Saturday, Ms Jones also took aim at the federal government, saying it allows Australian farmers to kill wombats and other wild animals in the process of harvesting and producing food products.
"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," Ms Jones said.
Is it illegal to pick up a wombat?
Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) vet Tania Bishop told the ABC on Friday that under Australia's Environmental and Biosecurity Protection Act 1999, it was illegal to harm or take any native wildlife in Australia.
Sam Jones is an influence who describes herself as a 'wildlife biologist and environmental scientist' as well as an 'outdoor enthusiast' and hunter. (Instagram: samstrays_somewhere)
"The only time there's a legal reason to do anything like that is if there's a dead mother and somebody has a reasonable idea that a joey is in need of help or assistance," she said.
"But in this circumstance, there was no legal justification for her to do that."
Four academics also said in a piece written for The Conversation that without official approvals to handle native wildlife, "engaging in these activities without the necessary permits is typically illegal".
The ABC has not received reports from any jurisdictions about charging Ms Jones over the video.