Panama, a tropical paradise boasting serene beaches and a vibrant marine ecosystem, has always attracted tourists worldwide. However, recent incidents of shark attacks have raised concerns among visitors and locals. Despite its rich biodiversity, these encounters remind us of the delicate balance between human activities and sea life. This page offers updated shark attacks in Panama, refreshed weekly, ensuring you stay informed about the latest occurrences and safety measures.
Recent Shark Attacks in Panama
| Date / Time | Country / Area | Activity | Name | Sex / Age | Injury | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-18-2009 18h30 | PANAMA ,Bocas | Wading | female | F /10 | Arm & torso bitten | |
| 07-27-2008 18h00 | PANAMA ,San Carlos | Swimming or surfing | Gerardo Solis | M | 5 lacerations to left foot | 3' shark |
| 11-01-2003 | PANAMA ,Pearl Islands | Spearfishing | Richard Hatch | M | Left forearm bitten PROVOKED INCIDENT | Nurse shark, 60 cm to 90 cm [2' to 3'] |
| 11-03-1965 07h32 | PANAMA ,Caribbean Sea | Argentine Air Force C-54 | 68 people missing (crew & passengers) | 2 life preservers had been bitten by sharks | Shark involvement not confirmed | |
| 08-01-1964 | PANAMA ,San Blas | Free diving / Spearfishingat edge of reef | male | M /21 | Foot lacerated | Less than 1.2 m [4'] |
| 05-30-1964 | PANAMA ,Caribbean Coast | Standing | W.W. Fitzsimmons | M /47 | No injury | Lemon shark |
| 05-01-1964 | PANAMA ,San Blas Islands | Skin diving | male | M /13 | FATAL, torso / abdomen severely bitten | 1.8 m [6'] shark |
| 07-01-1963 | PANAMA ,San Blas coast | Seining for bait, standing in chest-deep water | an Indian male | M | FATAL, foot nearly severed | |
| 10-01-1962 | PANAMA ,Pinas Bay | Sitting in shallows | infant, male | M /1 | FATAL, body not recovered | |
| 07-01-1961 | PANAMA | Fishing (trolling) from canoe | boy | M /10 | FATAL, hooked shark pulled him into the water PROVOKED INCIDENT | |
| 05-29-1960 08h30 | PANAMA ,San Blas Islands | Spearfishing, free diving, possibly ascended into path of cruising shark | Eddie Dawkins | M /27 | Face lacerated | |
| 01-01-1958 | PANAMA ,Canal Zone | Skindiving | boy | M | Boy seized shark by its tail, shark bit boy’s forearm PROVOKED INCIDENT | 18 to 24 shark |
| 07-01-1953 | PANAMA ,Gulf of Panama | Retrieving bait box that had fallen overboard | Jose Gonzales | M /19 | Hand severely bitten | |
| 01-01-1950 13h00 | PANAMA ,Canal Zone | Bathing | male, a US soldier | M | Foot & hand severed | 2.7 m [9'] shark with black-tipped pectoral fins |
| 01-01-1945 | PANAMA ,Colon Province | Bathing with her mother | Maria Asista | F /8 | Foot bitten | |
| 05-04-1944 | PANAMA ,Caribbean Sea | Washed overboard by swell | US Naval seaman, one of a crew on a Panama Sea Frontier Naval Patrol craft manned by Coast Guard | M | FATAL. His back was bitten as he was being towed to ship by rescuer, Lieut (j.g.) Stanley Kurta, then the shark pulled him below the surface. | White shark, 2.4 m [8'] |
| 09-23-1943 14h35 | PANAMA ,Gulf of Panama | Dived overboard to check propeller of US Navy motor torpedo boat | sailor | M /20 | FATAL, left leg & shoulder bitten | White shark, 2 m [6'9] (Tooth fragment recovered from victim's shoulder & identified by J.T. Nicholls) |
| 01-01-1942 | PANAMA ,Panama City | Swimming | male | M | FATAL, body not recovered | |
| 09-01-1940 | PANAMA ,Panama Bay (Pacific Ocean) | Bathing | Roberto Menacho | M /18 | FATAL | 5.5 m [18'] shark |
| 08-02-1937 | PANAMA ,Colon Province | Swimming | Jorge Fernandez | M /21 | FATAL | |
| 07-05-1935 | PANAMA | Fishing with dynamite, afterwards in water retrieving catch | Valentin Alonso | M /14 | FATAL, leg severed | |
| 11-04-1928 10h00 | PANAMA ,Gulf of Panama | Swimming | Abraham Moreno | M /17 | FATAL, multiple injuries including evisceration, 3 fractures of right arm, 5 fingers & leg severed below knee | Moreno’s leg & part of his swim suit found in 9' shark caught two hours after the attack. Identified as carcharhinid shark by L. Schultz & C. Limbaugh on photograph |
| 11-24-1924 After midnight | PANAMA ,2 to 3 miles off Taboguilla Island, Pacific Ocean | Inebriated, woke from sleep and fell off deck into the water | male | M /35 | Knee bitten | |
| 04-22-1924 | PANAMA ,150 miles offshore | Floating, after falling or jumping off the Standard Oil tanker Frederick W. Weller | Claremont L. Staden | M /21 | Reported to have had 2 fights with sharks before being rescued by the British freighter Dorsetafter 23 hours in the water | |
| 09-01-1917 | PANAMA ,Colon | Swimming to shore from the Medic | male | M | FATAL | |
| 11-15-1916 | PANAMA | Clarence Ware | M | Severely bitten | ||
| 03-31-1910 | PANAMA ,Colón Province | Fell overboard from USS cruiser Tacoma | Samuel Barnes, a Marine | M | FATAL | |
| 02-23-1895 | PANAMA ,Bocas del Toro | Swimming, after sailboat capsized | John Minard | M | FATAL | |
| 01-27-1864 | PANAMA ,Colón Province | Coming ashore on a hawser | a sailor from ther RM steam packet Solent | M | FATAL | |
| 01-01-1748 | PANAMA ,Las Perlas archipelago | Pearl diving | African slaves | M | FATAL | |
| PANAMA | Jules Patterson | M | FATAL | |||
| PANAMA ,Bocas del Toro Province | Swimming/ | male | M /20 | FATAL |
Can shark attacks in Panama impact its tourism?
While incidents can raise concerns, Panama remains a popular destination, offering unique marine experiences. Staying informed and taking precautions ensures a safer and enjoyable visit.
Are there specific species of sharks responsible for attacks in Panama?
In Panama, the species of sharks typically responsible for the rare instances of attacks include the Bull shark and the Tiger shark. However, it’s crucial to note that these species are not inherently aggressive towards humans and attacks are extremely infrequent.
What areas in Panama are most prone to shark attacks?
Shark encounters in Panama are most frequently reported in areas with abundant marine life, such as the Gulf of Chiriqui and Coiba National Park. Despite the presence of various shark species in these regions, it’s critical to remember that shark attacks in Panama are exceedingly uncommon.
