This is the moment a bear turned on its ringmaster and pinned him to the ground in front of shocked spectators at a circus show in China.
The animal, named Xiong Xiong, made its unexpected move in the middle of a show at a circus in the city of Huzhou last Tuesday.
The video shows the bear and two artists standing on stage in the middle of an act when the animal decides knocking one of the artists to the ground.
The second man rushes to help his colleague free himself from the beast’s powerful grip, and the video ends with the second man trying to push the bear away.
Chinese media reported that it took up to six circus staff to rescue the performer and place the bear in its cage, as stunned onlookers watched in amazement.
The male Asian black bear can weigh up to 30 kilos; Females weigh around 20 kilos.
The Asiatic black bear (Ursus Thibetanus), also known as the white-breasted bear, is a medium-sized bear native to Asia.
Females are significantly smaller than males and weigh around 20 kilos.
This is by no means the first time a Chinese circus performer has been attacked by a bear during a show, and compared to previous incidents, the man in the video came out unscathed.
In December, a smaller black bear on roller skates suddenly lost control and lunged at one of the guides and bit him.
One witness, who attended the show with a child, described the bear’s first round on a scooter as normal, but in the second round, it made the unexpected attack.
The staff managed to restrain the bear and moments later, it let go of the handler’s leg and turned its attention to the popcorn scattered on the ground.
After the bear finished its impromptu snack, the apparently injured handler managed to successfully guide the bear off the stage.
On December 11, a spokesperson for the area where the circus is based said that the animal trainer was examined at the hospital and did not suffer any major injuries.
They stressed the accidental nature of the incident and noted that the trainer had bear bite marks without bleeding.
The spokesperson hinted at the possible reconsideration of such actions in the future, recognizing the need to prioritize safety.
The Institute of Animal Law in Asia calls for animals to be banned from circus shows.
They say: ‘KeePinging animals in captivity and using them for entertainment can cause stress and aggression.
‘Many wild animals used in circuses tend to live in family groups in the wild.
‘In addition to having an unnatural environment with other incompatible animals and an unnatural environment (being crowded between four walls), they are treated with violence and intimidation that causes stress in the animals.
The circus performer was unharmed after the incident on stage
“Not only does it harm the animals themselves, but it also affects public safety because some animals go crazy and hurt or kill people.”
Asiatic black bears are lis.classified as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
They are endangered mainly due to deforestation and poaching for their body parts, which are used in traditional medicine.
Despite being endangered, they are still the most common bear in Asia.