This is the horrifying moment an elephant brutally trampled its keeper during a traditional Sri Lankan festival before going on a wild rampage.
The Perera Buddhist festival, which took place in the southwestern city of Galle, was gripped by terror when the giant animal lost its cool during a parade.
Shocking images captured the streets filled with festival-goers, many of whom are children, as they watch the musicians and artists make their way down the street.
But while they clap to the music and enjoy the dancers, a docile elephant lurks in the background behind a group of drummers and a caretaker.
He flaps his ears and takes a slow step forward as the procession continues, but nothing could prepare the locals for the imminent outbreak.
Without warning, the red-robed wild animal suddenly turns its head with a force strong enough to knock its owner to the ground.
He can be seen stomping on the man as the performers scurry to the side, leaving onlookers stunned as they struggle to escape the area.
People jump over the fences from which they were sitting to watch the parade, while others run on foot along the road as the elephant continues its rampage.
The Perera Buddhist festival, which took place in the southwestern city of Galle, was gripped by terror when the giant animal lost its cool during a parade.
The images captured the moment the animal fiercely turned its head, knocking its handler to the ground.
The elephant then trampled the handler as he struggled to get off the ground.
People fled in terror as the savage beast made its way down the street in a terrifying rampage.
The handler who was attacked was reportedly admitted to a local hospital for treatment and fortunately managed to survive the ordeal.
It comes after a woman was rushed to hospital after being mauled by a tiger at Dreamworld on Australia’s Gold Coast in September.
The tiger attacked the 47-year-old experienced caretaker, leaving her with several deep cuts and scratches.
Earlier this year, a circus bear also attacked its trainer in front of screaming children after he forced the animal to perform.
The skating bear, a female named Dzhema, was being forced to perform tricks at the ironically named ‘Happiness Show’ at Mash Circus, Obnisk, Russia, on June 1.
Shocking footage captured by an audience member showed Dzhema leaping towards her cruel trainer while his back was turned to her.
Last year, a lion suddenly turned and attacked its circus trainer while the audience was screaming during a performance in China.
Shocking footage showed the dangerous confrontation between two lions and their tamer on the stage of a caged circus in the northern Chinese city of Dongning during a performance.
The male lion attacked and jumped towards the man during the show while the lioness stood still.
The tamer managed to escape the lion’s clutches and the video showed him running to the opposite part of the cage with the lions hot on his heels.