Viral footage from a Chinese safari park has captured the moment a captive bear snapped and attacked its trainer during a live show, shocking families in the stands and reigniting fierce debate over the ethics of using wild animals for entertainment.
The incident occurred at Hangzhou Safari Park in Zhejiang province, where a black bear known as Xiong Er was being made to perform as part of a staged “behavior display” for visitors. In the now widely shared clip, the bear suddenly lunges at its handler on stage, knocking him to the ground as staff members rush in with whatever objects they can grab to keep the animal at bay.
The moment the performance turned into panic
In the video, the trainer appears to be directing or manhandling the bear when the animal suddenly overpowers him. The crowd screams as Xiong Er pushes the trainer down and looms over him. Several staff members rush onto the platform carrying stools, a bamboo pole and even part of a basketball hoop in a desperate attempt to force the bear back.
At one point, the trainer gets to his feet and tries to approach the bear again, only for the animal to lunge a second time. The performance is abruptly halted as onlookers, including young children, watch in horror from just a short distance away.
Park says bear was “after carrots”, not acting out of malice
In a statement quoted by Chinese media, Hangzhou Safari Park claimed the bear was triggered not by aggression but by the smell of a bag of carrots the trainer was holding, describing the attack as a “misunderstanding over food” rather than an intentional mauling. The park said neither the bear nor the handler sustained serious injuries.
International coverage, including reports in People, has noted that the bear has since been removed from public performances. Park officials say Xiong Er has been moved to a larger, more secluded feeding area in the surrounding mountains, away from daily shows and close-up human interaction.
Viral anger and renewed calls to end animal performances
The clip has spread rapidly on social media platforms such as Weibo, Douyin and X, where many users have condemned the spectacle and questioned why wild animals are still being made to perform circus-style tricks in 2025.
“This bear didn’t suddenly become dangerous,” one commenter wrote in a widely shared post. “It finally reacted after years of humiliation on stage.” Another user demanded: “Stop using wild animals as props. If you can’t guarantee safety or dignity, don’t keep them at all.”
Animal-rights organisations have echoed those concerns, arguing that such incidents are an inevitable consequence of housing powerful, intelligent animals in restrictive conditions and forcing them to carry out unnatural behaviours. Groups such as PETA have long documented cases of bears being beaten, chained or deprived of proper care during training.
Part of a wider pattern of incidents
This latest attack is not an isolated case. Previous investigations across Asia and beyond have exposed bears being made to ride bicycles, walk upright in costumes or balance on balls for crowds, often under the threat of physical punishment if they fail to perform on cue.
Critics argue that the Hangzhou incident is a symptom of a wider problem: humans attempting to control wild animals for spectacle in environments where safety, welfare and basic animal needs are often secondary to ticket sales and social-media clips. The risk, they say, is borne by both the animals and the people who work with them.
Will this be a turning point for China’s animal shows?
China has introduced stronger animal-welfare rules in recent years, but enforcement is uneven and loopholes remain for zoos, travelling shows and privately run attractions. Supporters of traditional performances argue they are culturally ingrained and help educate children about wildlife. But opponents say that forcing a bear to perform on command teaches the opposite lesson: that wild creatures exist merely for human amusement.
For now, at least, Xiong Er will no longer be stepping under the stage lights. Whether this viral incident leads to broader change across China’s wildlife parks remains an open question — but the images of a terrified crowd and a cornered bear will be hard for the public to forget.
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