Bear attacks trainer in front of shocked Russian circus audience

The dramatic incident took place at a circus in Biysk, Russia. During the performance, the female bear attacked its trainer, knocking him down and pinning him to the ground. The 48-year-old trainer desperately attempted to free himself, using a stick to shield himself as the bear bit it.

According to the "Daily Mail," another circus employee helped the trainer, prodding the bear with a stick from behind the barrier separating the audience from the stage.

This intervention was effective enough that the bear stepped back, allowing the trainer to get up. The incident could have been fatal, but thanks to the trainer's calmness, he managed to escape unscathed.

Even more surprising is that after the trainer stood up, the bear followed his commands calmly. The terrifying scene did not end the performance. It continued. Nikita Mikhaylov, head of the Moretti circus, addressed the matter, emphasizing that the trainer acted appropriately.

He didn’t resist on purpose and (...) waited for the bear to calm down, got up, continued the routine with her, sealed it all with a kiss, and that was it — the show continued as usual, said the head of the circus.

The circus owner assured that neither the trainer nor the bear was injured during the incident. He added that although trained circus animals can behave unpredictably, every trainer working with them understands this perfectly.

"While modern world circus art is rapidly moving towards humanity, banning the use of animals in circuses, the Russian circus lobby is actively resisting progress, defending its commercial interests," said Russian animal rights campaigner Yuri Koretskikh.