54Prohibited entrants that escape or are liberated

54 Prohibited entrants that escape or are liberated (1) If an animal: (a) escapes from the possession of or from being under the control of a person; or (b) is released or permitted to escape, in a place where it is a prohibited entrant, immediately on that escape or liberation, the animal is to be taken to be a feral animal and Division 4 applies in respect of the animal accordingly. (2) Despite Division 4, if a prohibited entrant has escaped or been released, a conservation officer may, with the assistance the Director thinks appropriate, enter land where the Director believes the prohibited entrant is or might be to: (a) investigate whether the feral animal is present on the land and the threat it poses or is likely to pose to a habitat, ecosystem, vegetation or landscape on the land; or (b) take immediate action to eradicate the prohibited entrant. Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 62 (3) If the conservation officer or a person assisting the conservation officer enters on to land in pursuance of subsection (2) and causes damage to the land, crops, buildings, fences or other improvements on the land, the owner or occupier of the land is entitled to be compensated for that damage unless the damage was caused without negligence on the part of the conservation officer or person.