A zookeeper was knocked to the ground by a black bear during a live demonstration at Hangzhou Safari Park, with dramatic footage capturing the terrifying attack.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, 6 December, as two sets of performers took part in an animal behavior display at the zoo in China’s Zhejiang province.
Moments before the attack, a keeper can be seen holding a bear’s paws as it stands upright and rides a pink hoverboard across the stage.
Food is then hovered over the bear’s head, and it performs a spin on the electric board.
The performance quickly took a nightmare turn when one of the bears veered towards a keeper positioned at the edge of the set and lunged at him.
A nearby colleague can be seen rushing in to help the man, attempting to strike the bear with a plastic chair before running away.
Another employee comes in and tries to pull the bear off, but quickly jumps back.
One of the workers returns armed with a basketball hoop and again tries to hit the animal before another steps in with a large pole and begins prodding the bear.
The bear was eventually restrained and led away by staff.
Hangzhou Safari Park later confirmed that no injuries were reported, either to the trainer or the bear.
According to officials, the keeper had been carrying a large bag filled with apples and carrots, which is believed to have prompted the animal’s reaction.
A park spokesperson said: “At 3:50pm on December 6, during our animal behaviour demonstration, an incident occurred in which a black bear attempted to snatch food from the trainer.
“Although neither the trainer nor the animal was injured, our on-site response was insufficient, causing an unpleasant experience for visitors. We sincerely apologise for this.
“In response, the park has suspended the black bear behaviour demonstration. We will also provide comfort and conduct observations for the animals involved to ensure their well-being.
“At the same time, we will thoroughly review shortcomings and make improvements to strengthen management and emergency response. We express our sincere gratitude to all citizens for their concern and support.”
Asian black bears are native to large parts of China and are known for their strength, agility and strong food drive.
In the wild, they typically live alone, relying heavily on their climbing ability and acute sense of smell.
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