Abstract

MENDIETA, C.  and  DUARTE, A.. Attack for aquatic animals (shark and alligator): Report of two fatal cases in the Bocas del Toro province (Panama). Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2009, n.58, pp.309-315. ISSN 1988-611X.

Attacks for aquatic animals, especially those due to shark and alligator, are very unusual. Shark attacks have been reported in countries such as Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Bahamas, Mexico and Puerto Rico, some with fatal consequences in the last five years. In Panama, reported cases from shark attack are scarce, being the last one in the city of San Carlos, while the last fatal case was reported in the year 1964. Alligator attacks, as in the previous case, are very scarce. Worldwide, the major part of the described cases are from Australia, Angola, India, Brazil and Florida. In Panama, the last fatal case occurred in the Miraflores lake in May 2007; however, the corpse was never found. In this paper, we described two cases of animal predation, from shark and alligator, occurred in the Bocas del Toro province (Panama) with the aim to recognize the pattern of bite injuries and the vulnerable anatomical affected areas.

Keywords : Attack; shark; alligator; bites; forensic pathology.

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