Influencer snatches baby Wombat from its mother

[Catherine]

There was an incident in Australia where an internet influencer took a baby Wombat from its mother and walked off with it. The influencer was in Australia on a visa so she was asked to leave the country. She claims now that she was just trying to protect the baby Wombat by getting it off the road.


https://people.com/influencer-who-stole-...h-11696863

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/...mal-ntwnfb

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6684476



If she was just rescuing the Wombat, why was she being photographed. Also why was she standing, holding the Wombat in the door way of her car, if she just wanted to remove it from the road. If it was a rescue, then why was there a video posted online.
It is easy to say afterwards that you were just trying to help, but it looks more like she was trying to create internet content.
It is unlikely she will ever be able to return to Australia. Maybe she won't be welcome elsewhere either.


The world has a long history of tourists interacting with baby animals. Some of them even die as a result.

[Aussienan]

This has been all over the news she went over to the mother that was on the side of the road grabbed the baby ran back to the car with it,the baby was wriggling and screaming the man with her was laughing at the mother running after the baby,she left Australia before they had time to charge her and then made a statement saying it was an over reaction and we have a shocking record towards our native animals but even if that was true or not doesn't negate what she did was wrong she's an influencer on TikTok and Instagram I am so over these entitled influencers that think they can do anything,she'd be lucky to get back in the country again and there is a massive fine for anyone that interferes with the native wildlife and if she's serious that she cares for wildlife why was she laughing thinking it was funny there are wildlife zoos where you can pay to nurse animals under supervision she has also been snapped with other native animals don't know if it was in the same circumstances or not.

[Catherine]

Your description fits what I thought she had done. It did not look like she rescued the baby from the road. 
The mother and baby must have been so distressed by her actions.

She left the country quickly because she knew she was in trouble. If she tried to come back she could be fined for what she did.
Would they let her have another visa? She might find there are a lot of countries that won't grant her a visa. She has made her actions very public.

I agree with you. I am tired of so called influencers. Why would anyone want to be influenced by anyone like her.
Influencers create incidents with animals so they can post them online. If they cared about animals they would do things to help them, not to gain attention for themselves.

She should come to Canada and "rescue" a baby Canada Goose or maybe a baby moose.
They are not so gentle as a wombat.

[Aussienan]

Our PM said tell her to pick up a baby crocodile and see how she goes our crocodiles are known for being the most vicious reptiles in the world.

[Catherine]

Your crocodiles mean business. She wouldn't even get close to a baby before the mother croc would react.
Reptile people all around the world have a healthy fear of Australian reptiles, especially your crocodiles.

I like the attitude of your prime minister. He is blunt and to the point.

I think we have all had enough of influencers and tourists harming our animals.
We need to get tough with them.

[Catherine]

The story is just not going away. Samantha Strable just keeps making it worse.

https://www.boredpanda.com/baby-wombat-l...-messages/

She is clearly not sorry and she will do things like this again.

One of these times she will  tangle with the wrong animal and it won't be as helpless as a baby wombat.

[Aussienan]

Even if what she said is true or not doesn't deflect from the fact that what she did was wrong she's just trying to take the heat off herself.

[Catherine]

You are right. What she did is wrong. What anyone else did or didn't do doesn't change the fact that she scared a baby animal and its mother. 
I just hope the little wombat is okay.
I really am tired of these influencers doing anything they want with no thought for anyone else. As long as they get attention, they are happy.
I wonder if she secretly loves the reaction she is getting. It gets her more noticed.