Black December
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Black December refers to at least nine shark attacks on humans causing six deaths that occurred along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, from December 18, 1957 to April 5, 1958.[1]
Perfect storm
In December 1957 several key factors occurred simultaneously to attract sharks to the Durban area, including: (1) whaling ships operating in the area; (2) rivers had flooded and washed livestock into the Indian Ocean and made the river deltas murky; and (3) recent resort development had increased the number of tourists swimming off the beaches.[2] Adding to the confusion was the lack of adequate shark research and the knowledge to prevent shark attacks in 1957.[2]
Attack victims
| Name | Age | Date | Species | Location | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay Jones Bester | 28 | 1958-04-05 | Unknown | Uvongo | Fatal attack, while surfing.[3][4] | |
| Nicholaas Badenhorst | 29 | 1958-04-03 | Unknown | Port Edward | Fatal attack, arm severed above elbow, abdomen & leg bitten, while swimming.[3][5] | |
| Derryck Garth Prinsloo | 42 | 1958-01-04 | Great white shark | Scottburgh | Fatal attack, mauled below waist, femoral artery severed, while standing.[3][6] | |
| Zulu male | -- | 1958 | Unknown | MaKakatana River | Fatal attack, right leg severed above knee, while fishing.[3][7] | |
| Julia Painting | 14 | 1957-12-30 | Unknown | Margate | Non-fatal attack, left arm severed, torso bitten, thigh lacerated, many abrasions, while standing.[3][8] | |
| Donald Webster | 20 | 1957-12-26 | Unknown | Port Edward | Non-fatal attack, lacerations on head and neck, while skindiving.[3][9] | |
| Vernon James Berry | 23 | 1957-12-23 | Unknown | Margate | Fatal attack, right arm broken & stripped of flesh, left hand severed above wrist, lower abdomen, buttocks, & thigh bitten, while floating.[3][10] | |
| Allan Green | 15 | 1957-12-20 | Unknown | Uvongo | Fatal attack, multiple severe injuries, while standing.[3][11] | |
| Robert Wherley | 16 | 1957-12-18 | Unknown | Karridene | Non-fatal attack, left leg severed at knee, part of left thigh removed, while body surfing.[3][12] |
Attempted solutions
Tourists fled the Durban area during Black December causing a devastating impact on the local economy.[13] The local authorities desperately made attempts to protect swimmers and surfers from sharks.[1] These attempts included enclosures built from wooden poles and netting; however, both were ineffective and were destroyed by the surf.[1] A South African Navy frigate dropped depth charges causing few shark fatalities and attracted many more sharks into the area that feasted on the dead fish.[1]
KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board
As a result of Black December the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board previously the Natal Sharks Board and Natal Anti-Shark Measures Board was formed in 1962.[14][15][16] The organizations mandate is to maintain shark nets and drum lines at 38 places, along 320 km of coastline off the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, to protect bathers and surfers from shark attacks.[14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d National Geographic: South Africa Rethinks Use of Shark Nets
- ^ a b IMDb: Killer Sharks: The Attacks of Black December
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Stop Shark Cage Diving
- ^ GoShark: Fay Jones Bester
- ^ GoShark: Nicholaas Badenhorst
- ^ GoShark: Derryck Garth Prinsloo
- ^ GoShark: Zulu male, Young
- ^ GoShark: Julia Painting
- ^ GoShark: Donald Webster
- ^ GoShark: Vernon James Berry
- ^ GoShark: Allan Green
- ^ GoShark: Robert Wherley
- ^ Gulf News: Keeping great whites at bay
- ^ a b "History of protection against shark attack in KZN". KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ "An overview of the KZN Sharks Board". KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ Africa Geographic: Shark nets - the real killers of the sea? Archived May 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
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