14Recovery or destruction of escaped or released farm deer

14 Recovery or destruction of escaped or released farm deer

(1)  As soon as a wildlife officer is aware that a farm deer has escaped or been released from a deer farm, the wildlife officer is to –

(a) take the steps that the wildlife officer considers necessary to facilitate the recovery of the escaped or released farm deer; or

(b) destroy the escaped or released farm deer, if –

(i) the wildlife officer is of the opinion that the deer poses a threat to the environment, the community or the property of another person; or

(ii) the owner of the escaped or released farm deer consents to its destruction.

(2)  A wildlife officer may give a written notice to a licence holder, or a deer farm operator, in respect of a deer farm, specifying actions that must be taken to facilitate one or more of the following:

(a) the recovery of a farm deer that has escaped, or been released, from the deer farm;

(b) the destruction of a farm deer that has escaped, or been released, from the deer farm;

(c) the prevention of a further escape or release of farm deer from the deer farm.

(3)  A person who is given a written notice under subregulation (2) must comply with the written notice.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.

(4)  A licence holder is liable to pay to the Crown the costs, charges and expenses reasonably incurred by a wildlife officer in the recovery or destruction of, or an attempt to recover or destroy, farm deer that have escaped, or been released, from the deer farm operated under the licence.

(5)  The Crown is not liable to pay compensation in respect of an escaped, or released, farm deer that has been destroyed under this regulation.