American phenomenon Sam Jones caused a major uproar in Australia when he shared moments of separating a baby kangaroo from its mother on social media. While the government was considering canceling his visa, Jones decided to leave the country voluntarily.

American phenomenon Sam Jones, who briefly took a baby kangaroo from its mother in Australia and shared the footage on social media, has left the country. Scandalous footage received a huge backlash, with officials considering the option of canceling Jones’s visa. Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke had previously stated that they were looking into whether the phenomenon’s visa could be revoked. However, according to the BBC, Jones left the country of his own accord. SOCIAL MEDIA TAKES ACTION

After Jones laughed and picked up the baby kangaroo he found at the side of the road, moving it away from its mother, reactions escalated. The footage also captured moments when the baby kangaroo hissed out of fear. In response to the backlash, the phenomenon made his Instagram account private and deleted the post. Jones, who had about 100 thousand followers, described himself as an “outdoor enthusiast and hunter.” AUTHORITIES’ HARSH STATEMENTS

The incident created a significant political storm in Australia. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the footage as a “disgrace,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong also characterized the incident as “appalling.” Opposition leader Peter Dutton labeled Jones’s actions as “cruel” and expressed satisfaction at his departure from the country. Additionally, an online petition demanding Jones’s deportation collected more than 30 thousand signatures. However, officials stated that the phenomenon, who was not facing any charges, did not pose a threat to the country, and there was no legal basis to cancel his visa. “ONLY HELD FOR A MINUTE”

In subsequent statements that he deleted, Jones said, “I only held the baby for a minute carefully and immediately returned it to its mother.” However, these statements did not ease the anger. Wildlife experts considered Jones’s actions as a “blatant disrespect for the local ecosystem.” While the Vombat Protection Association condemned “the improper capture of a baby kangaroo for social media likes,” Suzanne Milthorpe, a representative of the World Animal Protection Association, said in an interview with the BBC, “This is unacceptable behavior. For that baby, it was no different than being snatched by a predator.” Kangaroos, which are unique to Australia, are legally protected throughout the country. Experts note that baby kangaroos form a strong bond with their mothers and such separations can lead to serious stress.