Wildlife Protection Arizona Sets a Good Example Arizona has a brochure called Operation Game Thief. It lists various rewards for information on poachers of certain animals, birds and fish. They pay rewards as follows: $350 for Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Buffalo, and Bald Eagles. $250 for Deer, Antelope, Bear, Turkey, Lion, and Javelina, or any critter on the endangered species list $50 to $150 for other species of wildlife and attendant acts of vandalism. Other Rewards In addition, several sportsmen's groups provide reward funds that allow payments ranging from $50 to $1,000 in cases where, under State law, Operation Game Thief is not able to pay. The rewards are, nevertheless, for cases where the tip was originally provided through Operation Game Thief. Decisions on these are made in consultation with the boards of member organizations: Operation Game Thief brochures are printed and distributed by Arizona department of Game and Fish. The number to call for Arizona's Operation Game Thief is 1-800-352-0700. Most States have similar rewards, also under the name Game Thief, or similar names, and sponsored by various organizations. By the way, various places throughout California, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona offer a $1,000 reward for information on poachers. I believe all States have similar rewards, and almost every store that sells hunting and fishing licenses probably know of a person, group, sheriff, or local DFG warden. They can advise you if there are any rewards available. They'll also tell you the number to call or person to contact. If all else fails, remember WE-TIP. In California dial 1 (800) 78-CRIME, or outside of California dial 1 (800) 73-CRIME. The following hotline numbers were noticed in The American Hunter, one of the NRA's official publications. While they may or may not pay a reward, if you just want to blow the whistle on poachers, here's the 800 numbers to call: Poaching Hotline Numbers Help Stop Game Thieves! Use These Toll-Free 800 Numbers (Note: all the following are to be preceded with 1-800) Alabama 242-4263 Alaska 478-3377 Arizona 352-0700 Arkansas 482-9262 Califor 952-5400 Colorad 332-4155 Connect 842-4357 Delaware 292-3030 Fla NE 342-8105 Fla NW 342-1676 Fla Cen 342-9620 Everglds 432-2046 Fla Sou 282-8002 Georgia 241-4113 Hawaii 548-5918 Idaho 632-5999 Illinoi 252-0163 Indiana 847-4367 Iowa 532-2020 Kansas 228-4263 Kentuck 252-5378 Louisia 442-2511 Maine 253-7887 Maryland 635-6124 Massach 632-8075 Michign 292-7800 Minneso 652-9093 Mississi 237-6278 Missour 392-1111 Montana 847-6668 Nebrask 742-7627 Nevada 992-3030 New Ham 344-4262 New Jer 222-0456 New Mex 432-4263 New York 847-7332 N Carol 662-7137 N Dakot 472-2121 Ohio 762-2437 Oklahoma 522-8039 Oregon 452-7888 Penn NW 533-6764 Penn SW 243-8519 Pen NCen 422-7551 Pen SCen422-7554 Penn NE 228-0789 Penn SE 228-0791 Rhode Is 525-0770 S Carol 922-5431 S Dakot 592-5522 Tenness 255-8972 Texas 792-4263 Utah 662-3337 Vermont 752-5378 Virgini 237-5712 Washngtn 477-6224 W Virgin638-4263 Wiscons 847-9367 Wyoming 442-4331 Park Rangers Asked to Don Body Armor "GRAND CANYON, Arizona - Skyrocketing crime in some of America's wilderness vacation spots has compelled the National Park Service to urge rangers to wear bulletproof vests. Park Service officials say car thieves, drug smugglers and gangs flourish in parks because the remote areas are difficult to patrol and tourists, who believe the sites are immune to crime, take fewer precautions in protecting their property. Although crime statistics are sketchy, mounting incidents show park areas are not immune from the worst of urban crime. Last year park ranger Robert L. McGhee, 50, was shot to death after making a traffic stop on a park road in Gulf Islands National Park in Mississippi. In the past year, rangers shot two men to death in separate armed battles at Lake Mead National Recreational Area near Las Vegas, Nevada. Drugs have also played a part in park crime waves. A major drug smuggling operation was uncovered in Big Bend National Park in Texas, and a laboratory for the illegal drug methamphetamine was found in Joshua Tree National Park in California. Remote areas on BLM land is often used to set up drug factories, or to grow marijuana. A pocketbook, "Outlaw" (The true story of Claude Dallas), by Jeff Long, tells about a self-styled mountain man who lived off the land hunting and trapping in the Idaho/Nevada/Oregon triangle (Owyhee region) in 1980. Claude shot and killed two Department of Fish and Game wardens. He was caught, prosecuted, went to prison, and escaped in 1986 and is still on the loose, probably in the same area. The book has a surprising statistic quoted, and a cautionary comment for anyone considering being a game warden or a CrimeFighter specializing in patrolling Parks and Forests: "The Wyoming Fish and Game Department report showed that a game warden has roughly SEVEN times the chance of getting shot at or threatened with a gun as a regular police officer, and almost NINE times as great a chance of dying if assaulted." With those statistics, the Department of Fish and Game should up the ante from $1,000 and make the reward $10,000 for the arrest of any poacher, and lawmakers should upgrade poaching from a misdemeanor to a felony - to make it commensurate with the increased seriousness and risk. Canadians have similar problems. A recent Canadian TV program featured a story about poachers in Quebec. It mentioned the increasing number of incidents that have taken place in the last few years. Many game wardens have been threatened, beaten, and hospitalized, or shot and killed by poachers. Until recently, game wardens in Canada carried no firearms but after the last incident mentioned on the TV show, where a game warden was shot to death by a crossbow, the need for well-armed law enforcement personnel in parks and forests as well as urban areas are now obvious and recommended. CrimeFighters (and campers, fishermen, etc.) are advised to have the means to protect themselves in remote areas where there are few armed rangers to provide them with protection. CrimeFighters on park patrols should likewise carry a weapon for self defense in case they're discovered and a poacher makes a life-threatening move against them. When you decide to patrol a national forest or national park, stop at the ranger station and read the park rules concerning weapons. If in doubt, check with the ranger or game warden. Obey the posted rules. Have a chat with the ranger first. He'll be more likely to believe you when you call to report poaching or other illegal activity. When talking to the ranger or game warden, ask for their telephone number or CB channel that you can use to give them a call. Patience is a Virtue (and a Necessity) Stake-outs and covert surveillance require endless patience, That's an accepted part of a lawman's job. The U.S. Customs or the Border Patrol officers describe their job as "99% boredom, with 1% sheer terror." CrimeFighters on stake-outs should remember that. If you keep a discreet distance and not expose yourself to dangerous situations, you can avoid the 5% sheer terror. That way it might be 99% boredom and 1% joyful excitement. The latter occurs when you obtain evidence resulting in an arrest and a conviction and qualify for the rewards. Remember: "... a game warden has roughly SEVEN times the chance of getting shot at or threatened with a gun as a regular police officer, and almost NINE times as great a chance of dying if assaulted." Whenever possible, call the police or law enforcement agencies to make the arrest. Keep a low profile. Never expose yourself to unnecessary physical danger or lawsuits. If you're a full-time CrimeFighter, and in it mainly for the money, don't jeopardize your life or bank account by sticking your neck out. Your job is to supply the information to law enforcement agents. Let a lawman make the arrest. In addition to Fish and Game poachers, there's another type of poacher who is even more dangerous: those who threaten the extinction of wildlife listed as endangered species. There are Federal laws that offer rewards for information leading to their arrest and conviction. * * * * * * The Law The following law quotations are included for your convenience in case you wanted the information. But reading them is slow and tedious. If you're not interested in pursuing a career in wildlife law enforcement, use F9 to skip the remainder of this chapter. Conservation Reward Laws 16 USCS Section 668 Reward for information concerning violations of the Protection of Bald and Golden Eagles. (a) Prohibited acts; criminal penalties. Whoever, within the United States or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof, without being permitted do so as hereinafter provided, shall knowingly, or with wanton disregard for the consequences of his act take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or in any manner, any bald eagle commonly known as the American eagle, or any golden eagle, alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof of the foregoing eagles, or whoever violates any permit or regulation issued pursuant to this Act, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year or both: Provided, That in the case of a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of this section committed after the date of the enactment of this provision (enacted Oct 23, 1972), such person shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both: Provided further, That the commission of each taking or other act prohibited by this section with respect to a bald or golden eagle shall constitute a separate violation of this section: Provided further, That one-half of any such fine, but not to exceed $2,500, shall be paid to the person or persons giving information which leads to conviction: Provided further, That nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit possession or transportation of any golden eagle, alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof, lawfully taken prior to the addition of this Act of the provisions relating to the preservation of the golden eagle. (b) Civil Penalties. Whoever, within the United States or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof, without being permitted do so as hereinafter provided, shall knowingly, or with wanton disregard for the consequences of his act take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import, at any time or in any manner, any bald eagle commonly known as the American eagle, or any golden eagle, alive or dead, or any part, nest, or egg thereof of the foregoing eagles, or whoever violates any permit or regulation issued pursuant to this Act, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $5,000 for each such violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense. No penalty shall be assessed unless such person is given notice and opportunity for a hearing with respect to such violation. In determining the amount of the penalty, the gravity of the violation, and the demonstrated good faith of the person charged shall be considered by the Secretary. For good cause shown, the Secretary may remit or mitigate any such penalty. Upon failure to pay the penalty assessed under this section, the Secretary may request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in a district court of the United States for any district in which such person is found or resides or transacts business to collect the penalty and such court shall have the jurisdiction to hear and decide any such action. In hearing any such action, the court must sustain the Secretary's action if supported by substantial evidence." * * * * * * 16 USCS Section 1371 - 1376, Reward for information on violation of Marine Mammal Protection Act. Section 1375 Penalties (a)(1) Any person who violates any provision of this title or of any permit or regulation issued thereunder may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $10,000 for each such violation. No penalty shall be assessed unless such person is given notice and opportunity for a hearing with respect to such violation. Each unlawful taking or importation shall be a separate offense. Any such civil penalty may be remitted or mitigated by the Secretary for good cause shown. Upon any failure to pay a penalty assessed under this subsection, the Secretary may request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in a district court of the United States for any district in which such person is found, resides, or transacts business to collect the penalty and such court shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide any such actions. (2) In any case involving an alleged unlawful importation of a marine mammal or marine mammal product, if such importation is made by an individual for his own personal or family use (which does not include importation as an accommodation to others or for sale or other commercial use), the Secretary may, in lieu of instituting a proceeding under paragraph (1), allow the individual to abandon the mammal or product under procedures to be prescribed by the Secretary, to the enforcement officer at the port of entry. (b) Any person who knowingly violates any provision of this title or of any permit or regulations issued thereunder shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $20,000 for each such violation, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. (Oct 21, 1972 and amended on Oct 9, 1981) Section 1376 Seizure and forfeiture of Cargo (a) Application of consistent provisions. Any vessel or other conveyance subject to the jurisdiction of the United States that is employed in any manner in the unlawful taking of any marine mammal shall have its entire cargo or the monetary value thereof subject to the seizure and forfeiture. All provisions of law relating to the seizure, judicial forfeiture, and condemnation of cargo for violation of the customs laws, the disposition of such cargo, and the proceeds form the sale thereof, and the remission or mitigation of any such forfeiture, shall apply with respect to the cargo of any vessel or other conveyance seized in connection with the unlawful taking of a marine mammal insofar as such provisions of law are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this title. (b) Penalties. Any vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United Sates that is employed in any manner in the unlawful taking of any marine mammal shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. Such penalty shall be assessed by the district court of the United States having jurisdiction over the vessel. Clearance of a vessel against which a penalty has been assessed, from a port of the United Sates, may be withheld until such penalty is paid, or until a bond or otherwise satisfactory surety is posted. Such penalty shall constitute a maritime lien on such vessel which may be recovered by action in rem in the district court of the United States having jurisdiction over the vessel. (c) Reward for information leading to conviction. Upon the recommendation of the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to pay an amount equal to one-half of the fine incurred but not to exceed $2,500 to any person who furnishes information which leads to a conviction for a violation of this title. Any officer or employee of the United States or of any State or local government who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of his official duties shall not be eligible for payment under this section. * * * * * * Comment: If any breach of law includes a felony, and the crime was based on financial gain, RICO law may also apply. If that's possible, a CrimeFighter should weigh the anticipated reward to be paid compared to what might be gained by prosecution under RICO law where 50% of the fines and forfeitures from civil and criminal suits may be obtained. Be the prosecutor when you can to assure substantial rewards via fines and forfeitures, unless they are expected to be minimal. In that case, let the Rangers do the prosecution and apply for appropriate rewards. * * * * ** 16 USCS Section 1540. Reward for information leading to the arrest, a criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment or forfeiture of property concerning a violation of the Endangered Species Act. Section 1540 Penalties and enforcement (a) Civil Penalties. Any person who knowingly violates, or who knowingly commits an act in the course of a commercial activity which violates any provision of this Act, or any provision of any permit or certificate issued hereunder, or any regulation issued in order to implement subsection (a)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F),(a)(2)(A),(B), (C), or (D), (c), (d) (other than regulation relating to record keeping or filing of reports), (f) or (g) of section 9 of this Act may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $25,000 for each violation. Any person who knowingly violates, and any person engaged in business as an importer or exporter of fish, wildlife, or plants, who violates any provision of any other regulation issued under this Act may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $12,000 for each such violation. Any person who otherwise violates any other provision of this Act, or any regulation, permit, or certificate issued hereunder, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $500 for each violation. No penalty may be assessed under this subsection unless such person is given notice and opportunity for a hearing with respect to such violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense. Any such civil penalty may be remitted or mitigated by the Secretary. Upon any failure to pay a penalty assessed under this subsection, the Secretary may request the Attorney General to institute a civil action in a district court of the United States for any district in which such person is found, resides, or transacts business to collect the penalty and such court shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide such action. The court shall hear such action on the record made before the Secretary and shall sustain his action if it is supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole. (2) Hearings held during proceedings for the assessment of civil penalties authorized by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be be conducted in accordance with section 554 of title 5, United States Code. The Secretary may issue subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, and documents, and administer oaths. Witnesses summoned shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid to witnesses in the courts of the United States. In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena served upon any person pursuant to this paragraph, the district court in which such person is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the United States and after notice to such person, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and produce documents before the Secretary, or both, and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. (b) Criminal violations. (1) Any person who knowingly violates any provision of this Act, of any permit or certificate issued hereunder, or of any regulation issued in order to implement subsection (a)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D),(E), or (F); (a)(2)(A), (B), (C), or (D), (c), (d) (other than regulation relating to record keeping or filing of reports), (f) or(g) of section 9 of this Act shall upon conviction, be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. Any person who knowingly violates any provision of any other regulation issued under this Act shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. (2) The head of any Federal agency which has issued a lease, license, permit, or other agreement authorizing a person to import or export fish, wildlife, or plants, or to operate a quarantine station for imported wildlife, or authorizing the use of Federal lands, including grazing of domestic livestock, to any person who is convicted of a criminal violation of this Act or any regulation, permit, or certificate issued hereunder may immediately modify, suspend, or revoke such lease, license, permit, or other agreement. The Secretary shall also suspend for a period of up to one year, or cancel, any Federal hunting or fishing permits or stamps issued to any person who is convicted of a criminal violation of any provision of this Act or any regulation, permit, or certificate issued hereunder. The United States shall not be liable for the payments of any compensation, reimbursement, or damages in connection with the modification, suspension, or revocation of any leases, licenses, permits, stamps, or other agreements pursuant to this section. (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, it shall be a defense to prosecution under this subsection if the defendant committed the offense based on good faith belief that he was acting to protect himself or herself, a member of his or her family, or any other individual, from bodily harm from any endangered or threatened species. (c) District court jurisdiction. The several district courts of the United States, including the courts enumerated in section 460 of title 28, United States Code, shall have jurisdiction over nay actions arising under this Act. For the purpose of this Act, American Samoa shall be included within the judicial district of the District Court of the United States for the District of Hawaii. (d) Rewards and certain incidental expenses. The Secretary or the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay, from sums received as penalties, fines, or forfeitures of property for any violation of this Act or any regulations issued hereunder (1) a reward to any person who furnishes information which leads to an arrest, a criminal conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property for any violation of this Act or any regulation issued hereunder, and (2) the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by any person providing temporary care for any fish, wildlife or plant pending the disposition of any criminal proceeding alleging a violation of this Act with respect to that fish, wildlife or plant. The amount of the reward, if any, is to be designated by the Secretary or the Secretary of the Treasury, as appropriate. Any officer or employee who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of his official duties shall not be eligible for payment under this section. Whenever the balance of sums received under this section and section 3375(d) of the Act of November 16, 1981, as penalties or fine, or from forfeitures of property, exceed $500,000, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit an amount equal to such excess balance in the cooperative endangered species conservation fund established under section 1535(d) of this Act. (e) Enforcement. (1) The provisions of this Act and any regulations or permits issued pursuant thereto shall be enforced by the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, or all such Secretaries. Each such Secretary may utilize by agreement, with or without reimbursement, the personnel, services, and facilities of any other Federal agency or any State agency for purposes of enforcing this Act. (2) The judges of the district courts of the United States and the United States magistrates may, within their respective jurisdictions, upon proper oath and affirmation showing probable cause, issue such warrants or other process as may be required for enforcement of this Act and any regulations issued thereunder. (3) Any person authorized by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, to enforce this Act may detain for inspection and inspect any package, crate, or other container, including its contents, and all accompanying documents, upon importation or exportation. Such person may make arrests without a warrant for any violation of this Act if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested is committing the violation in his presence or view, and may execute and serve any arrest warrant, search warrant, or other warrant or civil or criminal process issued by any officer or court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of this Act. Such person so authorized may search and seize, with or without a warrant, as authorized by law. Any fish, wildlife, property, or item so seized shall be held by any person authorized by the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating pending disposition of civil or criminal proceedings, or the institution of an action in rem for forfeiture of such fish, wildlife, property, or item, pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection; except that the Secretary may, in lieu of holding such fish, wildlife, property, or item, permit the owner or consignee to post a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary, but upon forfeiture of any such property to the United States, or the abandonment or waiver of any claim to any property, it shall be disposed of (other than sale to the general public) by the Secretary in such a manner, consistent with the purposes of this Act, as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe. (4)(A) All fish or wildlife or plants taken, possessed, sold, purchased, offered for sale or purchase, transported, delivered, received, carried, shipped, exported, or imported contrary to the provisions of this Act, any regulations made pursuant thereto, or any permit or certificate issued hereunder shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States. (B) All guns, traps, nets and other equipment, vessels, vehicles, aircraft, and other means of transportation used to aid the taking, possessing, selling, purchasing, offering for sale or purchase, transporting, delivering, receiving, carrying, shipping exporting or importing of any fish or wildlife or plants in violation of this Act, any regulation made pursuant thereto, or any permit or certificate issued thereunder shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States upon conviction of a criminal violation pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this Act. (5) All provisions of law relating to the seizure, forfeiture and condemnation of a vessel for violation of the customs laws, the disposition of such vessel or the proceeds form the sale thereof, and the remission or mitigation of such forfeiture, shall apply to the seizures and forfeitures incurred or alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions of this Act, insofar as such provisions of law are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.; except that all powers, rights, and duties conferred or imposed by the customs laws upon any officer or employee of the Treasury Department shall, for the purposes of this Act, be exercised or performed by the Secretary or by such persons as he may designate. (6) The Attorney General of the United States may seek to enjoin any person who is alleged to be in violation of any provision of this Act or regulations issued under authority thereof. (f) Regulations. The Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, are authorized to promulgate such regulations as may be appropriate to enforce this Act, and charge reasonable fees for expenses to the Government connected with permits or certificates authorized by this Act including processing applications and reasonable inspections, and with the transfer, board, handling, or storage of fish or wildlife or plants and evidentiary items seized and forfeited under this Act. All such fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the appropriation which is current and chargeable for the cost of furnishing the service. Appropriated funds may be expended pending the reimbursement from parties in interest. (g) Citizen suits. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection any person may commence a civil suit on his own behalf - (A) to enjoin any person, including the United States and any other governmental instrumentality or agency (to the extent permitted by the eleventh amendment to the constitution), who is alleged to be in violation of any provision of this Act or regulation issued under the authority thereof; or (B) to compel the Secretary to apply, pursuant to section 1535(g)(2)(B) (ii) of this Act, the prohibitions set forth in or authorized pursuant to section 1533(d) or section 1538 (a)(1)(B) of this Act with respect to the taking of any resident endangered species or threatened species within any State; or (C) against the Secretary where there is alleged a failure of the Secretary to perform any Act or duty under section 1533 which is not discretionary with the Secretary. The district courts shall have jurisdiction, without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties, to enforce any such provision or regulation, or to order the Secretary to perform such act or duty, as the case may be. In any civil suit commenced under subparagraph (B) the district court shall compel the Secretary to to apply the prohibition sought if the court finds that the allegation that an emergency exists is supported by substantial evidence. (2)(A) No action may be commenced under subparagraph (1)(A) of this section - (i) prior to sixty days after written notice of the violation has been given to the Secretary, and to any alleged violator of any such provision or regulation; (ii) if the Secretary has commenced action to impose a penalty pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; or (iii) if the United States has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a criminal action in a court of the United States or a State to redress a violation of any such provision or regulation. B) No action may be commenced under subparagraph (1)(B) of this section- (i) prior to sixty days after written notice has been given to the Secretary setting forth the reasons why an emergency is thought to exist with respect to an endangered species or a threatened species in the State concerned; or (ii) if the Secretary has commenced and is diligently prosecuting action under section 1535 (g)(2)(B)(ii) to determine whether any such emergency exists. (C) No action may be commenced under subparagraph (1)(C) of this section prior to sixty days after written notice has been given to the Secretary; except that such action may be brought immediately after such notification in the case of an action under this section respecting an emergency posing a significant risk to the well-being of any species of fish or wildlife or plants. (3)(A) Any suit under this subsection may be brought in the judicial district in which the violation occurs. (B) In any such suit under this subsection in which the United States is not a party, the Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary, may intervene on behalf of the United States as a matter of right. (4) The court, in issuing any final order in any suit brought pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to any party, whenever the court determines such award is appropriate. (5) The injunctive relief provided by this subsection shall not restrict any right which any person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common law to seek enforcement of any standard or limitation or to seek any other relief (including relief against the Secretary or a State agency). (h) Coordination with other laws. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary shall provide for appropriate coordination of the administration of this Act with the administration of the animal quarantine laws. Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act shall be construed as superseding or limiting in any manner the functions of the Secretary of Agriculture under any other law relating to prohibited or restricted importations or possession of animals and other articles and no proceeding or determination under this Act shall preclude any proceeding or be considered determinative of any issue of fact or law in any proceeding under any Act administered by the Secretary of Agriculture. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as superseding or limiting in any manner the functions and responsibilities of the secretary of the Treasury under the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 USCS section 1527), relating to the importation of wildlife taken, killed, possessed, or exported to the United States in violation of the laws or regulations of a foreign country. (Enacted Dec 28, 1973 and amended on July 12, 1976, Nov 10, 1978, Nov 16, 1981, Oct 13, 1982, and June 25, 1984. F9 for next Chapter