Ice-Skating Bear Kills Trainer While Wearing Ice Skates
In a bizarre story out of Russia, where it's common for circuses to feature bears trained to do various tricks, a bear on ice skates mauled and killed a young trainer while preparing for a show. The trainer, 25-year-old Dmitry Potapov, was bitten in the neck and dragged across the ice by a 5-year-old bear.
From footage of the ice-skating bear.
When another trainer attempted to rescue Potapov, he also was mauled. The trainer lived, but was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The bear was shot when police arrived on the scene. Potapov's leg was nearly severed before the bear began dragging him by the neck, the BBC reports.
Ministry of Culture and Information director Kurmangazy Isanayev told reporters: "The incident occurred during a rehearsal by the Russian state circus company troupe which was performing in Bishkek with the program, Bears on Ice."
Russia has a long tradition of bear trainers, and some bears are trained to complete complex obstacle courses, and even play hockey, on the ice.
From footage of the ice-skating bear.When another trainer attempted to rescue Potapov, he also was mauled. The trainer lived, but was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The bear was shot when police arrived on the scene. Potapov's leg was nearly severed before the bear began dragging him by the neck, the BBC reports.
Ministry of Culture and Information director Kurmangazy Isanayev told reporters: "The incident occurred during a rehearsal by the Russian state circus company troupe which was performing in Bishkek with the program, Bears on Ice."
Russia has a long tradition of bear trainers, and some bears are trained to complete complex obstacle courses, and even play hockey, on the ice.
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