A U.S. influencer who sparked global outrage after grabbing a baby wombat from its mother has spoken out, insisting she is no ‘villain.’
Samantha Strable, 24, fled Australia on Friday after backlash over her viral video. In a series of posts on Instagram, she defended her actions and called the outrage against her “hypocritical.”
She claimed she was trying to save the baby wombat. Strable said she saw it “not moving” near a busy road and feared for its safety. She insisted that Australians were ignoring the fact that taxpayer money funds the culling of native animals, including wombats.
“Am I a villain? Things are not as they seem,” she wrote. She argued that people threatening her over the incident should consider the broader reality of wildlife management in Australia.
Strable pointed to large-scale culling of native animals. She claimed thousands of wombats are killed each year because they disrupt farmland. According to her, they damage land and create hazards for livestock. She argued that Australians accept the killing of millions of kangaroos for commercial purposes but reacted harshly to her actions.
“Look at your grocery stores,” she said. Strable pointed out that kangaroo meat is sold as both pet food and human food. She also criticized Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for mocking her, saying he should focus on real issues like power shortages and wildlife management.
She described her actions as a “snap decision.” Strable said she saw the mother wombat and her joey by the road and wanted to ensure they were safe. She claimed the joey did not move, making her worry it was injured. She admitted running with the joey but denied trying to steal or harm it.
Her video, however, showed the mother visibly distressed. A friend filming the encounter was heard laughing while Strable held the struggling joey. She later reflected on the situation, admitting she should have handled it differently.
Strable insisted the video was not staged. She said she acted out of concern and did not intend to upset anyone. Despite her apology, Australian authorities had already moved to deport her before she left voluntarily.
