An American influencer who sparked outrage after posting a video of her snatching a baby wombat from its mother while in Australia apologized on Saturday, saying she had acted out of concern for the young animal’s welfare.

Sam Jones, a US influencer who briefly snatched a baby wombat from its distressed mother, and uploaded the footage to social media has left Australia.

Sam Jones, who refers to herself as a "wildlife biologist and environmental scientist," has reportedly fled the country amid the ongoing criticism over the now-deleted clip