---
title: "Update encounter fields"
method: PATCH
path: "/api/v3/encounters/{encounterId}"
tags: ["Encounters"]
---

# Update encounter fields

`PATCH /api/v3/encounters/{encounterId}`

Apply JSON Patch operations (RFC 6902) to modify encounter fields.
Supports operations: add, remove, replace, move, copy.

Common updatable fields include: genus, specificEpithet, year, month, day,
sex, lifeStage, country, locationId, verbatimLocality, decimalLatitude,
decimalLongitude, individualId, occurrenceId, behavior, and more.

Special fields like acousticTag, satelliteTag, metalTags, measurements,
and assets can also be modified. Some fields (genus, specificEpithet, year,
submitterID) cannot be removed.

## Path parameters

- `encounterId` string, uuid, required

## Request body

- PatchOperation[]
  - `op` 'add' | 'remove' | 'replace' | 'move' | 'copy', required — The operation to perform
  - `path` string, required — JSON Pointer to the field to modify. Supported paths for Encounters include: individualId, occurrenceId, assets, acousticTag, satelliteTag, metalTags, measurements, annotations, and standard encounter fields (genus, specificEpithet, year, month, day, hour, minutes, sex, lifeStage, country, locationId, verbatimLocality, decimalLatitude, decimalLongitude, behavior, etc.)
  - `value` unknown
  - `from` string — Source path for move/copy operations

## Response `200`

Patch applied successfully

- PatchResponse
  - `success` boolean
  - `statusCode` integer
  - `patchResults` object[]
    - `_patch` object — The original patch operation that was applied

## Other responses

- `400` — Invalid patch operation or validation error
- `401` — Authentication required or invalid session
- `404` — Resource not found

## Changes

- **2026-01-18** `0f43af76a2df` — 1 info
  - endpoint added
- **2026-01-16** `50a91c7351b2` — 1 breaking
  - api removed without deprecation

[Change history](https://skmtc.dev/wildmeorg/apis/wildbook-v3-api/changes/api/v3/encounters/:encounterId/patch.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/wildmeorg/apis/wildbook-v3-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/wildmeorg/apis/wildbook-v3-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/wildmeorg/wildbook-v3-api/revisions/cae3a14f7bed/schema)