Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Hoverboard-Riding Circus Bear Attacks Handler On Stage In Front Of Horrified Crowd
30

Hoverboard-Riding Circus Bear Attacks Handler On Stage In Front Of Horrified Crowd

ADVERTISEMENT

An ordinary circus show in Russia turned into a terrifying spectacle when a hoverboard-riding bear suddenly attacked its trainer.

During the circus chaos that took place in Biysk, Russia, the bear gave the crowd more than they bargained for by turning on its trainer in the middle of a performance.

Trigger warning: This article contains details and video footage that might be disturbing to some.

Highlights
  • A hoverboard-riding bear named Donut attacked her trainer Sergei during a circus show in Biysk, Russia.
  • Despite being pinned to the ground, Sergei continued the performance after the bear calmed down.
  • Neither Donut nor Sergei was hurt in the incident, and the show continued as if nothing happened.

The brown bear, charmingly named Donut, was performing a balancing act on a hoverboard when she snapped. Weighing an impressive 35 stone, she suddenly pinned her tamer, Sergei Prichinich, 48, to the ground.

Hundreds of spectators were left stunned, including wide-eyed children and parents.

You May Also Like:

A circus performance in Biysk, Russia, took a dangerous turn when a hoverboard-riding bear attacked her trainer in the middle of the show

Image credits: @BSKGRAM / Telegram

Image credits: @BSKGRAM / Telegram

The situation quickly escalated as Sergei struggled to free himself, with Donut gnawing on the stick he used to guide her.

The audience gasped, and the tension in the air was palpable. A fellow circus official tried to distract the bear by poking her with another stick from behind a safety barrier.

ADVERTISEMENT

Miraculously, the predatory animal’s mood shifted as quickly as it had darkened.

The bear calmly walked away from her trainer, who, in a display of nerves of steel, got up and continued the show as if nothing happened.

The 35-stone bear, charmingly named Donut, pinned her trainer, Sergei Prichinich, to the ground and left hundreds of spectators shocked

Image credits: @BSKGRAM / Telegram

Astonishingly, neither Donut nor Sergei was hurt during the ordeal.

“There performance continued,” a circus spokesperson said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

The audience witnessed Sergei wrapping up the act by giving the bear a kiss.

According to Nikita Mikhailov, head of the Moretti Circus, the trainer kept his cool throughout the attack and continued the performance without any sign of panic.

Despite the frightening encounter, Donut quickly calmed down, and the trainer finished the act as if nothing had happened

“Towards the end of the act, the bear snapped at Sergei and wrestled with him,” but the trainer “didn’t resist on purpose,” the circus head said.

ADVERTISEMENT

He “waited for the bear to calm down, got up, continued the routine with her, sealed it all with a kiss, and that was it — the show continued as usual,” Nikita continued. “This is an animal, and they can behave differently, they may not like something, they can express their emotions this way. Every trainer understands this.”

For years, the ethics of using animals in circus performances has been a hotly debated topic. Critics argue that forcing wild animals to perform tricks for entertainment is inhumane.

The trainer “didn’t resist on purpose” and “waited for the bear to calm down,” the circus head said

As awareness increases about animal rights, the call to end these performances is becoming louder. People are becoming increasingly opposed to the suffering of animals in such environments.

Russian animal rights advocate Yuri Koretskikh has been at the forefront of efforts to ban live animals in circuses in the country.

“While modern world circus art is rapidly moving towards humanity, banning the use of animals in circuses, the Russian circus lobby is actively resisting progress, defending its commercial interests,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT
Ic_polls

Poll Question

Thanks! Check out the results:

Share on Facebook
Binitha Jacob

Binitha Jacob

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

Working as a writer for Bored Panda offers an added layer of excitement. By afternoon, I'm fully immersed in the whirlwind of celebrity drama, and by evening, I'm navigating through the bustling universe of likes, shares, and clicks. This role not only allows me to delve into the fascinating world of pop culture but also lets me do what I love: weave words together and tell other people's captivating stories to the world

Read less »
Binitha Jacob

Binitha Jacob

Author, BoredPanda staff

Working as a writer for Bored Panda offers an added layer of excitement. By afternoon, I'm fully immersed in the whirlwind of celebrity drama, and by evening, I'm navigating through the bustling universe of likes, shares, and clicks. This role not only allows me to delve into the fascinating world of pop culture but also lets me do what I love: weave words together and tell other people's captivating stories to the world

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
Marno C.
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cirque du Soleil has the right idea. People should perform circus tricks, not animals.

TotallyNOTAFox
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Circus Roncalli here in Germany uses holograms as replacement for real animals, they also didn't have animals in their show for 30 years now

Load More Replies...
BewilderedBanana
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was expecting much worse, and it would have been entirely justified

Seonag Udell
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep was disappointed the bear didn't end that f****r then bolt into the woods and live happily ever after

Load More Replies...
PeepPeep the duck
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not generally a bear fan, but I’m so on the bears side on this one.

Tamra
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a *wild animal* who deserves to live it's life in the wild, not be forced to do stupid tricks for crowds of people! This is disgusting!

Multa Nocte
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here is France you cannot use wild animals in circus acts.

Ace
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that's the case across the EU and most of the western world, TBH. I'm npt at all surprised to see that this happened in Russia.

Load More Replies...
Jane Jayne Jain Jeign Jein
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The following video contains images that some viewers may find upsetting." The upsetting part was the bear being forced to perform at the beginning. The rest of the video was just karma.

Anyone-for-tea?
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! F-ck that trainer and everyone that went to see the show. It’s the same as those elephants that “paint”, as its only because they’re conditioned and beaten to do it.

Load More Replies...
H R
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Retire the bear to a bear sanctuary and uhhhhh .... that's it

TheElementalGod️️ (He/him)
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I say we gather a bunch of bears, put them in the audience, and force a human to preform tricks, using the same training methods that these people use on the bears. All in favor?

Guess Undheit
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you get bears to do stunts like that? Abuse and torture.

Mia C
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can only force a wild animal to do unnatural acts for so long before they snap. Animals should be banned for all circuses, period

antoinette maldari
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"A fellow circus official tried to distract the bear by poking her with another stick from behind a safety barrier." Wow...literally poking the bear with a stick.

Leigh James
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn't it nice that the Russian people can enjoy activities like going to the circus whilst Ukrainians fight them for their lives and homeland!

R Dennis
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember going to the circus with my daughter's scout troop - last year of the elephants. I thoroughly did not enjoy the experience. There were also big cats and one of them clawed a trainers arm. I am not against wildlife conservation and ethically run zoos, but animals having to do "trained" acts? No, thank you.

Boris Long-Johnson
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Were the old lookers horrified the bear was performing or the person was being attacked because I’m not sure which is worse.

WickedLibra70
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Circus animals are treated horribly, hate to sound mean but I do not feel sorry for someone that keeps a wild animal in captivity where they never get to feel grass, run, are shackled, hit etc etc

Cronecast AtTheRisingMoon
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, if this was a Reddit AITA situation and the bear was asking it would be a nearly unanimous NTA because dude had that coming. We would all choose the bear there. He calmed down and performed when jabbed in the butt. That really suggests that he was trained by being poked aggressively. They sure had a poking stick at the ready.

Michelle Randazzo
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You Go Donut!!! This incident was the fault of Humans!!!! This bear deserves better!

Royal Stray
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dogs, sure. Horses, depends. Bears... well you only have yourself to blame, don't you

Caia Calabrese
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It wouldn't be a surprise that this were a stunt to attract public to that circus. The bear change its mood immediately. I don't like that she uses a collar, poor thing.

Donna Abene
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for the poor bear! This ancient use of animals as entertainment has to be stopped! Animals were not put on this Earth to entertain us or be abused by us! We are supposed to be an intelligent race, when does that begin to establish itself?

ROHIT
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Incredible insights as always! Your expertise shines through in every post, making it a pleasure to read. Looking forward to more enlightening content!Trail Trekker India

ROHIT
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for sharing such valuable information. Your perspective is refreshing and has given me a lot to think about.TIRUPATI TRAVELS

Everest wolf
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The animal should be realeased if it was born in captivity or showing visible signs of stress. If the animal was rescued and couldn’t go back to the wild, then the circus biz could be beneficial to their mental health, instead of sitting around doing nothing. I fear this may be the case for some animals but their trainers either don’t know or don’t care that they don’t like the large, noisy crowd.

Sven Grammersdorf
Community Member
2 months ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The circus parade in my town isn't the same without the elephants and tigers

Marno C.
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cirque du Soleil has the right idea. People should perform circus tricks, not animals.

TotallyNOTAFox
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Circus Roncalli here in Germany uses holograms as replacement for real animals, they also didn't have animals in their show for 30 years now

Load More Replies...
BewilderedBanana
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was expecting much worse, and it would have been entirely justified

Seonag Udell
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep was disappointed the bear didn't end that f****r then bolt into the woods and live happily ever after

Load More Replies...
PeepPeep the duck
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not generally a bear fan, but I’m so on the bears side on this one.

Tamra
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a *wild animal* who deserves to live it's life in the wild, not be forced to do stupid tricks for crowds of people! This is disgusting!

Multa Nocte
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here is France you cannot use wild animals in circus acts.

Ace
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that's the case across the EU and most of the western world, TBH. I'm npt at all surprised to see that this happened in Russia.

Load More Replies...
Jane Jayne Jain Jeign Jein
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The following video contains images that some viewers may find upsetting." The upsetting part was the bear being forced to perform at the beginning. The rest of the video was just karma.

Anyone-for-tea?
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! F-ck that trainer and everyone that went to see the show. It’s the same as those elephants that “paint”, as its only because they’re conditioned and beaten to do it.

Load More Replies...
H R
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Retire the bear to a bear sanctuary and uhhhhh .... that's it

TheElementalGod️️ (He/him)
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I say we gather a bunch of bears, put them in the audience, and force a human to preform tricks, using the same training methods that these people use on the bears. All in favor?

Guess Undheit
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you get bears to do stunts like that? Abuse and torture.

Mia C
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can only force a wild animal to do unnatural acts for so long before they snap. Animals should be banned for all circuses, period

antoinette maldari
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"A fellow circus official tried to distract the bear by poking her with another stick from behind a safety barrier." Wow...literally poking the bear with a stick.

Leigh James
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn't it nice that the Russian people can enjoy activities like going to the circus whilst Ukrainians fight them for their lives and homeland!

R Dennis
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember going to the circus with my daughter's scout troop - last year of the elephants. I thoroughly did not enjoy the experience. There were also big cats and one of them clawed a trainers arm. I am not against wildlife conservation and ethically run zoos, but animals having to do "trained" acts? No, thank you.

Boris Long-Johnson
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Were the old lookers horrified the bear was performing or the person was being attacked because I’m not sure which is worse.

WickedLibra70
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Circus animals are treated horribly, hate to sound mean but I do not feel sorry for someone that keeps a wild animal in captivity where they never get to feel grass, run, are shackled, hit etc etc

Cronecast AtTheRisingMoon
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, if this was a Reddit AITA situation and the bear was asking it would be a nearly unanimous NTA because dude had that coming. We would all choose the bear there. He calmed down and performed when jabbed in the butt. That really suggests that he was trained by being poked aggressively. They sure had a poking stick at the ready.

Michelle Randazzo
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You Go Donut!!! This incident was the fault of Humans!!!! This bear deserves better!

Royal Stray
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dogs, sure. Horses, depends. Bears... well you only have yourself to blame, don't you

Caia Calabrese
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It wouldn't be a surprise that this were a stunt to attract public to that circus. The bear change its mood immediately. I don't like that she uses a collar, poor thing.

Donna Abene
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for the poor bear! This ancient use of animals as entertainment has to be stopped! Animals were not put on this Earth to entertain us or be abused by us! We are supposed to be an intelligent race, when does that begin to establish itself?

ROHIT
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Incredible insights as always! Your expertise shines through in every post, making it a pleasure to read. Looking forward to more enlightening content!Trail Trekker India

ROHIT
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for sharing such valuable information. Your perspective is refreshing and has given me a lot to think about.TIRUPATI TRAVELS

Everest wolf
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The animal should be realeased if it was born in captivity or showing visible signs of stress. If the animal was rescued and couldn’t go back to the wild, then the circus biz could be beneficial to their mental health, instead of sitting around doing nothing. I fear this may be the case for some animals but their trainers either don’t know or don’t care that they don’t like the large, noisy crowd.

Sven Grammersdorf
Community Member
2 months ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The circus parade in my town isn't the same without the elephants and tigers

You May Like
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda