Rampaging circus bear kills one, injures another
Published: 23 October, 2009, 23:19
Edited: 21 December, 2009, 04:46
TAGS: Animals, Russia, Accident
A bear performing with a Russian circus attacked members of the troupe when the artists were rehearsing in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek. The circus administrator was killed and the animal’s trainer was severely injured.
The animal trainer, Evgeny Popov, was taking the bear, named Senya, through one of the more difficult parts of the performance, when Senya suddenly lost his temper and attacked Popov, biting him on his head and body.
Dmitry Potapov, the 25-year-old circus administrator, rushed to help the trainer when he was also attacked by the enraged 350-kilo animal. Potapov died from the wounds at the rink, while Popov was taken to a local hospital with severe injuries. Doctors says he is in critical condition.
The police who arrived on the scene had to shoot the bear. Its blood samples have been taken for further analysis.
Also, the show’s program has been changed, but tickets are still selling well.
“We have not received any instructions to cancel the show,” circus management told RIA Novosti news agency. “The tickets are for sale, with the next show scheduled for tonight.”
In Russia, where bears are cherished elements of folk culture and respected members of the circus, situations of this kind happen rarely.
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8 comments
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I don't believe in using animals for entertainment but my heart and prayers go out to the family members.
Bears like to kill and eat other large creatures, including people. Male bears eat their own young, for heaven's sake (nothing to do w/so called 'global warming' - they do this for natural territorial reasons when their population becomes overwhelmingly large - which it is, despite claims by the Goracle). It's best for bears and people to stay away from each other. Using animals and people in this exploitative manner is evil. My heart goes out to the young men (and their families) - badly injured and dead - much more than to the bear. Nevertheless, bears are not here for our entertainment and should not be mis-used in this way.
I feel saddened for the family of the dead man, and I pray for the injured man to recover. BUT...my heart goes out even more to the creatures put on earth that have been caged and abused for our 'entertainment'....They are helpless. Humans are not. They are doing what nature calls for them to do; HUMANS are not. AND "NO"..I'm not a bleeding heart LIBERAL. I'm a nature-loving CONSERVATIVE.