During a live circus performance, Russian trainer Sergei Prychinich had a narrow escape when he was suddenly attacked by a female brown bear named Donut, weighing more than 490 pounds. A horrified audience full of parents and children watched in fear as the bear, who was riding a hoverboard as part of her act, brutally attacked Mr. Prychinich, pinning him to the ground for nearly half a minute, New York Post Report.
Meanwhile, he desperately tried to protect himself, holding a rod between the bear’s jaws and his body. Just as the situation looked dire, an employee outside the cage intervened, striking the bear and distracting it long enough for Prichinich to escape. The bear retreated, allowing Prichinich to escape the terrifying incident unhurt.
Moretti Circus director Nikita Mikhailov confirmed that the show resumed without further incident following the horrific incident.
“At the end of the show, the bear pounced on Sergei and wrestled with him. Their show continued,” he said, adding that the trainer “waited for the bear to calm down, got up, continued his work with it, sealed it with a kiss, and that was it.”
He also praised Mr Prychinich for his quick thinking and professional handling of the situation. ”This is an animal, and they can behave in different ways, they may not like something, but they can express their emotions in this way. Every trainer understands this,” Mr Mikhailov said.
While everyone was relieved that the trainer escaped unhurt, Russian animal rights activist Yuri Koretskikh reiterated his call for a blanket ban on live animal shows, citing the inherent risks and dangers to humans and animals in such performances.
“While modern world circus art is rapidly moving towards humanism, banning the use of animals in circuses, the Russian circus lobby is actively opposing progress, protecting its commercial interests,” Mr. Koretskikh said.
In Russia, animal rights have been a serious concern, leading President Vladimir Putin to sign a bill outlawing animal cruelty in 2018. Although the law does not address animal performances, activists continue to focus on the issue. Last year, the Russian Duma proposed a bill to ban the use of animals in circuses across the country. The bill is set to be introduced in the lower house in October.
