U.S. influencer picks up baby wombat in Australia, sparks outrage
In a now-deleted video posted to Instagram this week, the woman can be seen picking up the hissing wild animal before declaring to the camera: "I caught a baby wombat."
The woman — identified in Australian media as American outdoors influencer Sam Jones — then places the wombat back on the side of the road.
The video riled wildlife experts and animal lovers alike — and on Thursday, concern over it reached the top echelons of the Australian government.
"It looked pretty dreadful, didn't it?" Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong told Australia's Channel Seven.
"I think everyone who would have seen that would have thought, look, leave the baby wombat alone."
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he was investigating if the woman had violated her visa.
"I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don't expect she will return," he said in a statement.
Jones also faced strong criticism from animal welfare advocates. Tania Bishop, a wildlife veterinarian at Australia's largest wildlife rescue organization, the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the way the influencer picked up the wombat could have damaged its "muscles, tendons, nerves, shoulders and upper arms." Bishop called the situation "distressing."
Australia's Wombat Protection Society said in a statement that the influencer "mishandled a wombat joey" in an "apparent snatch for social media likes."
"She then placed the vulnerable baby back onto a country road — potentially putting it at risk of becoming roadkill," their statement said.
The organization noted there was "no clear evidence" the wombat was reunited with its mother afterward, adding that a "baby of this size is highly dependent on its mother, and prolonged separation could have fatal consequences." They also said the tourist risked injuring herself by interacting with the animal as someone without proper training to handle wildlife.
Australia's rotund native wombats are among the world's biggest burrowing species, according to the national museum.
While some species are considered endangered, the common bare-nosed wombat is found along large swathes of southern and eastern Australia. All species of wombat are protected by law across Australia. "It is an offence to harm a wombat unless a license is obtained from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water," writes the environment and heritage department in New South Wales, where two of the three wombat species can be found.
Jones' exact location when she encountered the wombat isn't known, the Australian broadcaster reported. A Change.org petition is pressing Australian officials to deport the influencer and ban her "from ever returning for this action."
Trump reacts to European Union slapping tariffs on U.S. goods
Kentucky bourbon maker says Trump tariffs immediately impacted his business
Latest on missing American college student in the Dominican Republic
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Coast Packing Launches 8th Annual #BeefTallowFrenchFries Contest with Bigger Prizes and an Extra Crispy Celebration of Tallow-Cooked Fries
VERNON, Calif., July 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of National French Fries Day and Beef Tallow Day, Coast Packing Company, the leading supplier of animal fat shortenings in the Western U.S., is turning up the heat with its 8th Annual #BeefTallowFrenchFries Contest, a sizzling summer celebration of crispy, golden fries made with natural beef tallow. This year's contest kicked off on #NationalBeefTallowDay, Sunday, July 13 and runs through Thursday, July 31, giving both home cooks and restaurant-goers more time to enter and win. Whether you are hand-cutting russets in your backyard or snapping pics of your go-to tallow-fried fries from your favorite restaurant, all it takes is one great photo and a love of real, flavorful fries. Beef Tallow Day, an initiative of the Healthy Fats Coalition, celebrates pure beef tallow shortening, a traditional fat gaining popularity in American cuisine. Known for its flavor and health benefits, beef tallow is an excellent choice for preparing French fries, and Coast is excited to share posts featuring fries made with this delicious fat. To enter, follow @CoastPackingCo on Instagram or X, post a photo of your tallow-fry masterpiece—either homemade or from your favorite local restaurant—and tag it with #BeefTallowFrenchFries. Winners will be announced on or around Wednesday, August 13 on Coast's website and social media channels. Four winners will take home prizes worth the sizzle: 1st Prize – Ultimate Backyard Fry Setup ($737 value)Includes a Propane Deep Fryer, 5-gallon Coast beef tallow, BBQ tongs, digital thermometer, apron, and gourmet fry seasoning set. 2nd Prize – A Year of Fries ($600 value)A full year of fries with a gift card to a tallow-fry-serving restaurant of their choice. 3rd Prize – Fry Master Kit ($500 value)Features an All-Clad Deep Fryer, Weston French Fry Cutter, beef tallow, and apron. 4th Prize – Deep Fryer Cookie Gift Basket ($120 value)A sweet and savory treat basket from The Cookie Joint, packed in a reusable fryer basket. "This contest is one of our favorite ways to celebrate the flavor and unmatched performance of beef tallow," said Greg Hozinsky, Corporate Chef at Coast Packing. "Each year, the entries become increasingly clever and enticing. With the growing popularity of beef tallow, this year's Beef Tallow French Fries Contest is right on trend. We can't wait to see how tallow fans level up in 2025 compared to previous years." For more information or to enter, visit: No purchase necessary. Contest open to legal residents of the USA, 13+. Entries accepted from July 13 until July 31, 2025. Winners announced on social media and on website on or around August 13, 2025. ABOUT COAST PACKING COMPANY Coast Packing Company, founded in 1922, is the leading supplier of animal fat shortenings in the Western United States and a trusted name in the food industry. Known for its commitment to quality and innovation, Coast Packing Company offers products that enhance flavor, texture, and authenticity in commercial and home cooking. With a focus on sustainability and promoting healthier food options, Coast Packing Company remains dedicated to blending traditional values with a modern approach. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Coast Packing Company Sign in to access your portfolio
CNBC
2 hours ago
- CNBC
25% of young Americans aged 18 to 24 eat every meal alone—'a virtual doubling of what it was two decades ago,' expert says
Americans are not eating enough meals together. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, the optimal number of weekly lunches and dinners eaten with others is 13. And in the United States, people only share 7.9 of those meals together every week. The picture is even more dire for young Americans. Researchers looked at data from the American Time Use Survey, "which has a measure for the extent to which people shared meals the previous day," says Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, professor of economics and behavioral science at the University of Oxford and editor of the report. They found that in 2023, 25% of 18-to 24-year-olds ate all three meals alone the previous day. "That's a virtual doubling of what it was two decades ago," De Neve says, and it's to the detriment of their mental health. The number of meals shared with others is "as predictive of their life satisfaction, essentially their overall well-being" as their employment status or relative income, he adds. Here's why he thinks young people aren't breaking bread with others, and how they — and their institutions — can ensure they do so more often. "There's not a single smoking gun," says De Neve about the growth of this trend. There are many factors at play, and they've been building for decades. By the year 2000, when social scientist and Harvard University professor Robert Putnam published his book "Bowling Alone," the U.S. was already seeing an increase in disconnect from family, friends and neighbors. Putnam pointed to changes in work, family structure, suburban life, television and computers as contributors to the decline. When it comes to 18-to-24-year-olds, the introduction of smartphones and social media in the last two decades has only exacerbated the problem, De Neve says. An overwhelming majority, 98% of 18-to-29-year-olds have a Smartphone, according to a 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center. Smartphones are "distracting us from other human beings in the room," he says, "and are also sort of an excuse to not have to talk to people." Former U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy came to speak at Oxford in 2024. Murthy had just come back from a tour of American college campuses and shared a key observation. "The default now is that you do not speak to people when you go into a dining hall and you sit by yourself," De Neve says Murthy told them. To mitigate the growing lack of shared meals among young people, De Neve offers up some possible solutions. First, on an individual level, De Neve recommends taking the advice of Harvard Business School professor Arthur Brooks who he says suggests a box in both your bedroom and your kitchen where you put your phone. "That will force you to be present, and actually having conversations with people," De Neve says. On an institutional level, at universities, for example, administrators could consider having "one table in the dining hall which has a no-phone policy," he says, which signals to students that "if you're sitting here, you have to strike up a conversation." Finally, on a societal level, "we need to work with these social media tech companies," he says. While companies like Meta might have started with the intent to strengthen our personal connections, they've done the opposite. Ultimately, De Neves says, it's time to focus on putting "the 'social' back into social media."
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
4 people were killed in a small plane crash at London Southend airport, police say
LONDON (AP) — All four people aboard a a small plane that crashed shortly after taking off from London Southend Airport are dead, police said Monday. Essex Police said that work is continuing to formally identify the victims of Sunday's crash, none of whom are British. The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air operated by Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation had flown from Athens, Greece to Pula in Croatia on Sunday before heading to Southend. It was due to return to its home base of Lelystad, in the Netherlands, on Sunday evening. The 12-meter (39-foot) turboprop plane came down moments after takeoff and burst into flames. 'Sadly, we can now confirm that all four people on board died,' Essex Police Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin told reporters. 'We are working to officially confirm their identities. At this stage, we believe all four are foreign nationals.' Zeusch Aviation operates medical evacuation and transplant flights as well as aerial mapping and private charters, according to its website. The company said that 'it is with deep sadness that we confirm there were no survivors among the four people on board flight SUZ1. 'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,' it said. London Southend is a relatively small airport, around 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of the British capital, used for short-haul flights by airlines including easyJet. The airport remained closed on Monday with no word on when it would reopen. Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it has sent a 'multi-disciplinary team including inspectors with expertise in aircraft operations, human factors, engineering and recorded data' to the airport. 'As part of our investigation, we are liaising with other state investigation authorities,' said Lisa Fitzsimons of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. 'At this stage, it is too early to speculate on what may have caused this tragic accident.' The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, first built in the 1970s, is an aviation workhorse used for a wide variety of roles around the world. In 2017, a plane of the same model crashed into the roof of a shopping mall in Melbourne, Australia moments after takeoff, killing the pilot and four American tourists. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
