Horrifying moment bear turns on ringmaster and pins him to the ground in front of screaming crowd during circus show

In a startling moment captured on video, a bear named Xiong Xiong turned on its ringmaster, pinning him to the ground amidst shocked spectators during a circus show in China's city of Huzhou last Tuesday.

The footage depicts the bear and two performers on stage, engaged in an act when the animal suddenly knocks one of them to the ground.

Reacting swiftly, the second performer rushes to aid his colleague, attempting to free him from the bear's powerful grip. The video concludes with the second performer endeavoring to push the bear away.

Reports from Chinese media indicate that it took up to six circus staff members to rescue the performer and secure the bear back into its cage, as astonished onlookers watched.

Male Asian black bears can weigh up to 30 kilograms, while females typically weigh around 20 kilograms. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), also known as the white-breasted bear, is a medium-sized bear species native to Asia.

This incident is not the first time a Chinese circus performer has been attacked by a bear during a show, though remarkably, the man in the video emerged unscathed compared to previous occurrences.

In a similar incident in December, a smaller black bear on roller skates suddenly lost control and lunged at one of the handlers, biting him. Witnesses described the bear's behavior as initially normal until the unexpected attack occurred.

After the staff managed to restrain the bear, it shifted its focus to scattered popcorn on the ground, allowing the apparently injured handler to guide it off the stage safely.

Following the December 11 incident, a spokesperson for the circus's location stated that the animal trainer was examined at the hospital and did not sustain any major injuries. They emphasized the accidental nature of the incident, noting that the trainer had bear bite marks without significant bleeding.

The spokesperson hinted at potential reconsideration of such acts in the future, acknowledging the paramount importance of prioritizing safety.

The Institute of Animal Law in Asia calls for animals to be banned from circus shows. According to the institute, "KeePinging animals in captivity and using them for entertainment can cause stress and aggression.

Many wild animals used in circuses tend to live in family groups in the wild."

"In addition to having an unnatural environment with other incompatible animals and an unnatural environment (being crowded between four walls), they are treated with violence and intimidation that causes stress in the animals."