In a saga that feels more like a plot twist from a dramatic film, an American woman’s unexpected encounter with a wombat joey has unleashed a maelstrom of emotional uproar in Australia, forcing her to retreat to Thailand amid an intense backlash. The storm was ignited when an Australian influencer criticized the American in a now-viral TikTok video, labeling her as a “pig,” “narcissist,” and a “terrible woman” after she shared footage of herself snatching a wombat joey from its distressed mother.
The fallout from this infamous video left Samantha Strable, a 24-year-old American, cast as the antagonist in a globally shared narrative. Thanks to the relentless clicking and sharing of viewers worldwide, the video—now deleted—displayed her alongside her boyfriend, sheep shearer Louis Sixt, who could be seen laughing as the mother wombat chaotically chased after her joey. As their reputations plummeted alongside online vitriol, the couple reallocated themselves discreetly to Thailand, hoping to sidestep the digital indignation that had embroiled their lives.
The uproar reached a crescendo when Anthony Voulgaris, a prominent Melbourne-based influencer, wielded his substantial social media influence to decry Samantha’s actions in front of his half a million followers. His fervent callout was a resounding echo through the social media landscape: “I’m all for making mistakes—everyone needs to learn. But this isn’t a mistake. You’re acting like a terrible person because you saw the mom and her joey struggling in distress,” he proclaimed, leaving little room for audience ambiguity.
Adding intensity to the discourse, Voulgaris narrated his own childhood fable of misguided wildlife encounters, which seemed to accentuate the situation’s gravity: “When I was a child, I picked up a duckling, saw the distress, and put it down. I felt guilty for a month, fearing that I might have caused its mother to reject it. Note to self, don’t be a narcissist.” His appeal continued, compelling Strable to “never return to Australia again” and to “cease her meddling with the native fauna.”
His video resonated far beyond the confines of his followers, drawing over 8,000 comments steeped in support. One Aussie viewer confessed, “Seeing the mummy wombat waddle after her in distress is seared into my brain. It makes me so mad I want to cry.” However, the chorus of criticism wasn’t without its dissenters. A more tempered perspective emerged amongst the comments: “Yes, the wombat should have never been treated that way. But the level of threats and hate towards her is excessive.” Another shared a broader view: “This is bad, but cows experience this daily in the dairy meat industry. Their babies are taken too.”
Despite the barrage of outrage swelling like a digital tidal wave, the American woman stands firm, insisting her intentions were devoid of malice. In a flurry of online posts, she shared that the joey was held tenderly for only a minute before being returned to its mother safely. “For everyone worried,” she assured, “the baby was carefully held for one minute and then released back to mum. They wandered back into the bush unharmed.”
Nevertheless, the array of digital assaults left Strable overwhelmed, leading her to momentarily withdraw from social media amid feelings of vulnerability and despair. “I didn’t think I could catch it, and I wanted to appreciate an extraordinary creature up close,” she explained, bearing the justification for her ill-fated action. “I never capture wildlife to harm it.”
As emotions simmer and opinions remain divided, some voices in this chorus of discord advocate for a broader lens, urging the internet’s citizens to turn their focus to more substantial issues beyond this singular episode of wildlife mishandling. Regardless of the polarized perspectives, one undeniable truth prevails: when it comes to protecting their wildlife, Australians are steadfast in their resolve, determined not to let sleeping wombats lie.
This woman’s actions are shocking! She deserves all the backlash she’s getting. It’s disrespectful to wildlife.
It’s not just about disrespecting wildlife. It’s the attitude that they can do whatever they want without consequences.
I wonder if she’d have the same reaction if something similar happened in her own country.
She’s definitely learning that actions have global consequences.
But to be fair, do we know she had bad intentions? What if she just wanted to admire it?
It’s shameful to see someone justifying messing with wildlife in any capacity. We should leave animals in their natural habitat.
Totally agree. The wombat was terrified! No one should get the chance to traumatize animals for fun or curiosity.
I think everyone’s overreacting a bit. Yes, it was wrong, but sending threats is over the top.
Doesn’t change that she could’ve seriously hurt the wildlife. Cautionary tale, maybe?
I get that, but death threats help no one. Let’s educate, not spread hate.
It’s such a shame that misinformation is allowing this to explode. She held the joey for a minute and returned it.
I feel for the mom wombat and hope Samantha learned her lesson. But the level of hate she’s receiving might be a bit much.
Absolutely, it’s like some people can’t see the difference between education and mob mentality.
Exactly. We should be better at using opportunities like this to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Why is everyone so upset about a wombat when there’s ongoing animal cruelty in industries worldwide?
Strable should have known better! People who have no respect for wildlife need a wake-up call.
But shouldn’t this be a learning opportunity rather than just roasting someone online?
Sure, as long as she really learns from it and educates herself.
I simply can’t believe Strable didn’t know this would cause an uproar. Ignorance isn’t an excuse.
While I understand everyone’s frustration, moving to another country because of a mistake seems drastic.
Sometimes people need distance when criticism turns personal. It’s unfortunate.
This whole situation highlights how crucial it is to educate tourists about local wildlife.
I’ve held a koala before and been in awe of wildlife too! While I followed the rules, maybe it was all innocent.
I hope this awakens stricter guidelines for tourists. Let’s treat wildlife the way it deserves.
It’s sad that we reached a point where online shaming is this severe. There needs to be a balanced approach.
Agreed, but when dealing with wildlife, the message must be clear: They’re not playthings.
Correct, we shouldn’t diminish the importance of conserving and respecting nature.
Hope awareness spreads so such mishaps decrease.
If people don’t learn, what hope does our planet have for peace with humans and animals?