An 81-year-old man in the Adelaide Hills has been fined for failing to tag his pet deer despite multiple attempts, including efforts to tranquillize them, which were unsuccessful due to the animals’ flighty nature. The Environment, Development and Resources Court of South Australia found that the man, who regarded the 30 to 40 deer as pets, was guilty of not complying with an action order under the Landscape South Australia Act. Although he had shown a strong attachment to the deer, he failed to tag them by the deadline provided by officials, even after being granted extensions.
Despite acknowledging the challenges he faced—including the destruction of facilities in a bushfire—the court determined that practical difficulties did not excuse his non-compliance. The required ear tags are critical for disease management and conservation efforts. The judge sentenced him to a fine of $6,300 but considered factors such as his poor health, lack of prior offenses, and cooperation with authorities, allowing for a discount on the original penalty. Additionally, he was ordered to tag all deer on his property by the end of November.
