Section 55
of Protection of Wild Life Act 1972
Section 55
Notwithstanding anything in any other section and save as provided in this section where a wild animal or a wild bird is causing or there is reason to believe that it is about to cause serious damage to crops vegetables fruit growing timber domestic fowls or domestic animals in the possession of an owner or occupier of land, the owner or occupier or his servants or a Game Warden or an authorized officer may shoot kill or take the wild animal or the wild bird if—
(a)
he first uses reasonable efforts to frighten away the wild animal or the wild bird (including the firing into the air of a firearm); and
(b)
these reasonable efforts fail to frighten away the wild animal or the wild bird.
(2)
An owner or occupier of land pursuant to this section shall report the details of the damage (if any) and the species of the wild animal or the wild bird to any officer or to an authorized officer notwithstanding that no wild animal or wild bird is shot killed or taken, and where the owner or occupier has shot killed or taken the wild animal or the wild bird he shall, unless he is licensed to do so, make the same report.
(3)
Where a wild animal or a wild bird has caused serious damage pursuant to subsection (1) but has ceased to do so it shall not be shot killed or taken.
(4)
Any wild animal or wild bird shot killed or taken in pursuance of this section shall be the property of the State and shall without delay be handed to the Game Warden or an authorized officer.
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