Black December refers to at least nine shark attacks on humans causing six deaths that occurred along the coast of Natal Province in the Union of South Africa, from December 18, 1957, to April 5, 1958.
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.
Attack victims NameAgeDateSpeciesLocation Nature of injury(s) Fay Jones Bester 28 1958-04-05 Unknown Uvongo Fatal attack, while surfing. Nicholaas Badenhorst 29 1958-04-03 Unknown Port Edward Fatal attack, arm severed above elbow, abdomen and leg bitten, while swimming. Derryck Garth Prinsloo 42 1958-01-04 Great white shark Scottburgh Fatal attack, mauled below waist, femoral artery severed, while standing. Unknown male -- 1958 Unknown MaKakatana River Fatal attack, right leg severed above knee, while fishing. Julia Painting 14 1957-12-30 Unknown Margate Non-fatal attack, left arm severed, torso bitten, thigh lacerated, many abrasions, while standing. Donald Webster 20 1957-12-26 Unknown Port Edward Non-fatal attack, lacerations on head and neck, while skindiving. Vernon James Berry 23 1957-12-23 Unknown Margate Fatal attack, right arm broken and stripped of flesh, left hand severed above wrist, lower abdomen, buttocks, & thigh bitten, while floating. Allan Green 15 1957-12-20 Unknown Uvongo Fatal attack, multiple severe injuries, while standing. Robert Wherley 16 1957-12-18 Unknown Karridene Non-fatal attack, left leg severed at knee, part of left thigh removed, while body surfing.
Attempted solutions Tourists fled the Durban area during Black December, impacting the local economy.Gulf News: Keeping great whites at bay The local authorities made various attempts to protect swimmers and surfers from sharks, including enclosures built from wooden poles and netting which were ineffective and destroyed by the surf. A South African Navy frigate dropped depth charges causing some shark fatalities, while also attracting more sharks into the area that feasted on the dead fish.
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.Africa Geographic: Shark nets - the real killers of the sea? The organization's mandate is to maintain shark nets and drum lines at 38 places, along 320 km of coastline of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, to protect bathers and surfers from possible shark attacks.
See also
List of fatal shark attacks in South African territorial waters List of shark attacks in South African territorial waters 2010 Sharm El Sheikh shark attacks Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 Red Triangle (Pacific Ocean) Summer of the Shark
References