Footage shows the moment a captive bear snapped and attacked its trainer after being manhandled while being forced to perform in China.
The animal, reportedly named Xiong Er, was one of two Asian black bears made to ride hoverboards on their hind legs for a display at Hangzhou Safari Park in Zhejiang province on Saturday.
They were seen twirling on the self-balancing electric scooters before zipping around the performance area, each with a trainer guiding them.
At one point, Xiong Er was led off his hoverboard and round the back of a central stage area.
He appeared to struggle to keep pace on his hind feet, but his trainer kept a firm grip on one of his front paws and continued to drag him into position.
As the trainer turned him around, placed another hand on him and began to make him start backpedalling, the bear then lashed out.
Footage shows Xiong Er swiping with his claws before tackling the trainer to the ground and holding on.
Other staff are seen briefly attempting to pull the bear off before giving up and resorting to hitting him with objects.
Eventually the bear was carried backstage and the show was called off.
Park managers said neither the trainer nor Xiong Er were injured.
The trainer, named in reports as Zhou Jiazhen, later claimed the bear – whom he trained from a young age – did not intend to harm him and was simply trying to get at a bag of carrots he had on him.
‘If it really wanted to attack, I wouldn’t be standing here now,’ he told the Associated Press news agency.
Nonetheless, Xiong Er has been moved to a different part of the park, which has suspended all so-called ‘demonstrations’ involving Asian black bears.
It said in a statement: ‘Although neither the trainer nor the animal was injured, our on-site response was insufficient, causing an unpleasant experience for visitors. We sincerely apologise for this.
‘We will also provide comfort and conduct observations for the animals involved to ensure their well-being.
‘At the same time, we will thoroughly review shortcomings and make improvements to strengthen management and emergency response. We express our sincere gratitude to all citizens for their concern and support.’
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