An 81-year-old Adelaide Hills resident was fined $6,300 in the Environment, Development and Resources Court for failing to comply with an action order to fit his 30 to 40 "pet" deer with permanent ear tags under the Landscape South Australia Act.
The un-tagged herd was first discovered by an inspector in April 2022. Despite extensions, the owner faced severe difficulties in tagging the skittish animals due to their sharp antlers, a lack of rebuilt handling facilities following a bushfire, and injuries sustained by both the owner and his son during attempts. Even consultation with a Monarto Zoo expert to tranquilize the deer was unsuccessful.
Senior Judge Michael Durrant noted that while there was no intentional defiance, practical difficulties do not excuse non-compliance with biosecurity laws essential for disease and feral population management. Alongside the reduced fine, the court ordered that the deer must be tagged by the end of November.
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