Performing Bear Dressed In Hat And Scarf Goes Wild In Circus And Attacks Trainer

A 'performing bear' went wild and attacked its trainer at a Russian circus. Watch the shocking footage below:

Terrified children and parents watched on as the powerful creature clawed at the woman's legs in Berezovsky, the Kemerovo region, on Saturday (17 July).

Two other trainers tried desperately to pull the animal, which was dressed in a hat and glittering scarf, off the woman as she struggled to get herself free before falling helplessly to the ground.

Despite the violent outburst, the bear was made to continue performing, however, it then attacked her once again as she dangled a hoop in front of it.

In the footage, the bear can be seen clawing at the woman's face before a male trainer intervened to pull it away.

According to reports, there was a third attack but still the show did not stop, and the blonde trainer did not seek medical attention after the attack.

East2West News

The circus is renowned for dressing bears in human clothes, with some even wearing tutus.

It reportedly 'prides itself on humane training of the animals'.

The circus promises spectators 'an unforgettable large-scale performance with a wide variety of animals' to 'surprise every city in Russia'.

Its website says: "The artists present a symbiosis of training, clownery and high-class stunts in the circus ring."

Tickets for the event were reportedly priced at 500 roubles (£4.90).

The Russian Investigative Committee is studying the horrifying incident to check whether there were safety breaches during the performance, such as there being no fencing or barrier guarding spectators.

east2west

And despite the video evidence of the attack, the Harlequin Travelling Circus has since denied anything had happened.

A spokesman told Mash Siberia: "There was no incident whatsoever. Simply speaking, bears are now in mating season."

Irina Novozhilova, of animal rights group VITA, has now called for a ban of all circuses with live animals, which remain extremely popular across Russia.

She said: "No circus conditions will be humane for one simple reason. Training goes hand in hand with cruelty....

"Circuses are always cruel beyond limits. And circuses with animals should be banned."

Topics: Viral, Animal Cruelty, World News, Animal Rights, Circus, Weird, Health, Russia

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom