Raging bear attacks circus ringmaster in front of children​ and tries to escape​ before being subdued and forced to perform for the crowd

  • A raging performing bear attacked a circus ringmaster in front of a large crowd
  • It was agitated before showing its tricks in the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk
  • The 'Soviet Circus' show was by the Zvezdny travelling troupe from Novosibirsk 

By Will Stewart for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

A raging performing bear attacked a circus ringmaster in front of a large crowd of children and their parents.

The beast suddenly became agitated before going into the ring to show its tricks in Russian city Blagoveshchensk.

There were gasps from the audience as the ringmaster and a tamer struggled to control the brown bear, yanking its leash to force it to obey, as it tried to escape.

A raging performing bear attacked a circus ringmaster in front of a large crowd

A raging performing bear attacked a circus ringmaster in front of a large crowd

The bear was agitated before showing its tricks in the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk

The bear was agitated before showing its tricks in the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk

The 'Soviet Circus' show was by the Zvezdny travelling troupe from Novosibirsk

The 'Soviet Circus' show was by the Zvezdny travelling troupe from Novosibirsk

One is heard shouting: 'What's wrong? Damn.'

The trainers each fed a treat to the beast - which was on a leash - and the animal performed a trick jumping on stools while standing tall on its hind legs.

There were relieved cheers from spectators when the bear completed its stunt.

There was no fence or carried to the crowd.

As the footage spread online, there were calls for a ban on live animal performances in circuses.

The woman who posted the footage said: 'The bear was likely teased. 

The trainers each fed a treat to the beast - which was on a leash - and the animal performed a trick jumping on stools while standing tall on its hind legs

The trainers each fed a treat to the beast - which was on a leash - and the animal performed a trick jumping on stools while standing tall on its hind legs

There were gasps from the audience as the ringmaster and a tamer struggled to control the brown bear
They were yanking its leash to force it to obey, as it tried to escape

There were gasps from the audience as the ringmaster and a tamer struggled to control the brown bear. They were yanking its leash to force it to obey, as it tried to escape

The circus manager named Valentina told Port Amur newspaper that the performance had 'gone well'

The circus manager named Valentina told Port Amur newspaper that the performance had 'gone well'

Marina Gridina said: 'My friend was at the performance. 'She also said that the bear snapped. It looks like it is a bit aggressive'

Marina Gridina said: 'My friend was at the performance. 'She also said that the bear snapped. It looks like it is a bit aggressive'

'It got angry and began to kick and attacked the tamer.

'But all ended safely.'

Another critic Elena Klish posted: 'It was unbearably hot there, poor animals.

'It is time to prohibit such circuses.'

Marina Gridina said: 'My friend was at the performance.

'She also said that the bear snapped. It looks like it is a bit aggressive.

'And there was no proper barrier to the people watching.'

Another woman Ekaterina asked: 'Have you seen the conditions in which these animals live?

'I live nearby and often pass by the circus.

'It is awful, with cramped iron cages, the stench is simply unbelievable.

'A performing horse in a tent is just suffocating from the heat.

'I can't look at it, it's so pitiful.'

The 'Soviet Circus' show was by the Zvezdny travelling troupe, from Novosibirsk.

The circus manager named Valentina told Port Amur newspaper that the performance had 'gone well'.

'The video could be spread by ill-wishers,' she claimed.

'We have security measures in place. Animals are on leashes, in muzzles…

'The animal may show discontent, it is very hot. But there was no attack.'

Irina Novozhilova, of animal rights group VITA, has long called for the prohibition of all circuses with live animals, which remain popular across Russia.

'No circus conditions will be humane for one simple reason,' she said.

'Training goes hand in hand with cruelty…

'Circuses are always cruel beyond limits.

'And circuses with animals should be banned.'

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