A performing bear in China attacked its handler after being riled up by the smell of animal treats, this on December 6. The black bear lashed out as it was being led onto the stage at Hangzhou Safari Park in Zhejiang province, in eastern China.
Dramatic footage captures the hungry bear lunging at its handler and slamming him to the ground as horrified visitors watched. Panicked staff rushed to help, using a basketball hoop, a chair, and a bamboo stick in a desperate attempt to drive the bear away.
Hangzhou Safari Park said the handler and the bear were not injured and have since “reconciled.”
Captivity takes a toll on animals, and their behavior in zoos is not always natural or predictable. There have been moments when distress, frustration, or instinctive reactions lead to shocking incidents. Animal attacks in zoos are not uncommon, but in recent years several high-profile cases have brought the issue into the spotlight.
Intrigued? Browse through this gallery to revisit some of the most violent zoo attacks in recent history.