In a shocking incident at the Moretti Circus in Biysk, located in Russia’s Altay Kray region, a 220kg female brown bear named Donut attacked her trainer, Sergei Prichinich, 48, in front of hundreds of horrified spectators, including children and parents. The terrifying moment was captured on video, showing the bear, which was performing on a hoverboard, suddenly turning on Prichinich, knocking him to the ground and pinning him down.
The footage reveals Prichinich struggling to free himself as Donut gnawed on a stick he was holding. Another circus official attempted to intervene, poking at the bear with a stick through the barrier separating the audience from the ring. Despite the chaotic scene, Prichinich remained calm throughout the ordeal. Eventually, the bear backed off, allowing the trainer to stand and, astonishingly, continue the performance as if nothing had happened. The bear, seemingly losing her aggression instantly, walked obediently alongside Prichinich, even sharing a symbolic kiss to close the act.
While the incident could have been fatal, Nikita Mikhailov, head of the Moretti Circus, downplayed the event, stating that neither the trainer nor the bear was injured. He explained that Prichinich deliberately did not resist, waiting for Donut to calm down before resuming the routine. “This is an animal, and they can behave differently, they may not like something, they can express their emotions this way,” Mikhailov said, emphasizing that such behavior is understood by trainers. The circus also denied reports that Prichinich was rushed to the hospital, insisting the performance continued as normal.
The attack has reignited calls to ban live animals in circuses, with Russian animal rights campaigner Yuri Koretskikh leading the charge. He criticized the Russian circus industry for resisting global trends toward more humane practices, accusing it of prioritizing commercial interests over animal welfare. Recent polls indicate growing public support for ending the use of animals in circuses, with many respondents expressing discomfort at seeing animals suffer for entertainment.
This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of wild animals in captivity and raises questions about the ethics of their use in performances, as the debate over animal welfare in circuses continues to intensify.