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An ordinarycircus show in Russiaturned into a terrifying spectacle when ahoverboard-riding bearsuddenly attacked its trainer.
Trigger warning: This article contains details and video footage that might be disturbing to some.
The brown bear, charmingly named Donut, was performing a balancing act on a hoverboard when she snapped.
Weighing an impressive 35 stone, shesuddenly pinnedher tamer,Sergei Prichinich, 48, to the ground.
Hundreds of spectators were left stunned, including wide-eyed children and parents.
The audience gasped, and the tension in the air was palpable.
A fellowcircusofficial tried to distract the bear by poking her with another stick from behind a safety barrier.
Miraculously, the predatory animals mood shifted as quickly as it had darkened.
There performance continued, a circus spokesperson said, as quoted by theDaily Mail.
The audience witnessed Sergei wrapping up the act by giving the beara kiss.
Every trainer understands this.
For years, the ethics of using animals in circus performances has been a hotly debated topic.
Critics argue that forcing wild animals to performtricks for entertainment is inhumane.
People are becoming increasingly opposed to the suffering of animals in such environments.
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