Sam Jones, the U.S. influencer who drew criticism this week for stealing a baby wombat from its mother, issued a lengthy apology on her Instagram account Saturday.

The influencer apologized for the "distress" she caused before calling out the Australian government for its anti-wombat policies.

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.