What agency would you contact to report a high number of sightings of an endangered species?

Answer 1

Contact your state Department of Wildlife/Commissariats.

If your in the United States, you could also contact the AU'S. Fish & Wildlife Service (the federal branch equivalent to the state agencies). Do some research before you call, just because that species is listed as endangered doesn't mean nobody sees them, so they might be common where you live but rare inter/nationally.

Additional Information: Many times a specific endangered species will draw interest from their region, as Manatees are listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species List, but the state of Florida has the Florida Manatee listed as endangered also, and takes special interest in any reports of manatee sightings, their location, their condition, and any old scars. There are several sites, and toll-free numbers, and the public is encouraged to use them for reporting any manatees that have been sighted. While other states might have programs like the state of South Carolina, and it's program setup for the Swallow-tailed Kite, and any sightings of this bird foraging, or nesting are encouraged on their websites, or toll free number. Then there are report forms on-line, such as New Jersey uses with their NJ Endangered and Non-game Species Program, or NJ-ENSP. Working through this department the Metro Wildlife Survey hopes to get a clear understanding of the numbers, and locations of threatened and endangered species through out the state with the help of the people who live there. A final example is South Africa, and a program designed through the University of Cape Town, that allows citizens to report the sighting of rare, unusual, threatened and even endangered birds in a "nonthreatening way". The program hopes to encourage people to participate in protecting their wildlife, even if they are unsure of it's status of endangerment, stating that "If you are not sure if something is worth reporting, then report it." The hope is to build a reporting program with lists of species, and a system of forwarding all information related to any threatened, and endangered species to the appropriate departments. It appears that information for reporting sightings is not consolidated into international programs, but more specific to each region or country, or the species itself. For more details, please see the sites listed below.