This is the terrifying moment a circus bear riding a hoverboard attacks a trainer in front of hundreds of children and parents watching in Russia.
The raging female beast can be seen knocking tamer Sergei Prichinich, 48, to the ground after riding a hoverboard in Biysk, Russia.
The circus performer struggled to free herself as the angry brown bear named Donut, weighing 35 stone, bit the stick she was holding in her hand to try to control her.
A circus official hit the predator with another stick through the barrier separating the audience from the ring.
The beast eventually moved away enough to allow the performer to stand up as alarmed onlookers watched in horror. The incident could have been fatal for the trainer, but he remained calm.
The footage shows the furious female beast riding a hoverboard before launching an attack.
Hundreds of parents and children in the audience then watched as the bear ran towards the tamer.
The bear can be seen tackling 48-year-old bear trainer Sergei Prichinich and pinning him to the ground.
Surprisingly, the bear seemed to lose her aggression in an instant and obediently walked with Prichinich as if nothing had happened.
Reports said the trainer had been rushed to hospital, but the circus denied this.
“The performance continued,” a circus spokesman said.
Nikita Mikhailov, director of the Moretti Circus, later said: “Towards the end of the act, the bear bit Sergei and wrestled with him.”
He ‘did not 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’.
He said neither the trainer nor the bear were injured.
“He’s an animal and he can behave differently, he may not like something, he can express his emotions in this way. Every trainer understands that,” he said.
This comes after disturbing footage was released capturing the sickening moment two bears were forced to box each other on their hind legs in front of a laughing audience at a cruel Russian circus.
Terrifying moment bear attacks trainer in Russian circus show
The incident could have been fatal for the coach, but he remained calm.
A circus spokesman said the performance went on despite the attack.
Reports said the trainer had been rushed to hospital, but the circus denied this.
Incredibly, it was lucky for Prichinich to escape, as he stands up and finishes the performance after the vicious attack.
The wild beasts, taken from their natural habitats, can be seen dressed in shorts and wearing boxing gloves in shocking videos shared online.
Animals are forced to perform in boxing rings under fluorescent lights in front of large, noisy audiences in resorts such as Sochi on the Black Sea.
Russian animal rights activist Yuri Koretskikh has led calls to ban live animals in circuses.
‘While modern world circus art is rapidly moving towards humanity by banning the use of animals in circuses, the Russian circus lobby is actively resisting progress and defending its commercial interests,’ he said.
However, recent surveys show that the majority of respondents “no longer want to see animals suffer in circuses.”
