A live performance at a Russian circus took a terrifying turn when a 490-pound female brown bear named Donut attacked her trainer, Sergei Prichinich. The incident occurred during a routine in which the bear was riding a hoverboard. The audience, filled with parents and children, watched in horror as the bear turned on Prichinich.
Nikita Mikhailov, the head of the Moretti Circus, recounted the incident to the media. According to him, the bear suddenly lunged at Prichinich, wrestling him to the ground. Despite the dangerous situation, the performance continued.
The video of the incident shows Prichinich pinned to the ground by the bear for approximately 30 seconds. A worker outside the cage was able to distract the bear long enough for Prichinich to regain his footing.
Remarkably, Prichinich continued the performance after the attack. Mikhailov stated that the trainer waited for the bear to calm down before resuming the routine, even sealing it with a kiss. The show went on as planned.
The video also shows Prichinich trying to fend off the bear by placing a bar between himself and the animal. Once the bear was distracted by the worker outside the cage, she left Prichinich alone.
Mikhailov commended Prichinich for his composure during the incident, noting that working with animals can be unpredictable. He stated that every trainer understands the risks involved.
The incident has sparked a debate about the use of animals in live performances. Yuri Koretskikh, a Russian animal rights campaigner, has called for a ban on such acts. He criticized the Russian circus industry for resisting progress and prioritizing commercial interests over animal welfare.
In 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill banning animal cruelty. However, the law does not extend to animal performances, which remain a contentious issue among activists. A bill proposing to ban the use of circus animals in Russia by 2023 is currently under consideration by the Duma, the country’s governing body.