A zookeeper was attacked by a bear in a terrifying incident witnessed by shocked visitors during a performance at a zoo in China’s Zhejiang province. The distressing scene unfolded as workers were making black bears perform tricks, and one of the bears suddenly turned on the zookeeper, knocking him to the ground.
Before the attack, the zookeeper was seen interacting with the bear, but the situation escalated quickly as the bear pinned him down. Other staff members intervened, trying to fend off the bear using various items like a plastic stool and a basketball hoop. Despite their efforts, the bear repeatedly went after the zookeeper before eventually being restrained and led away.
The zoo confirmed that no injuries were reported from the incident and attributed the bear’s reaction to the zookeeper carrying a bag of apples and carrots. The park apologized for the incident, stating that they had suspended the bear behavior demonstration and would implement measures to ensure the well-being of the animals in the future.
This is not the first instance of a bear attacking zoo workers, as a similar incident occurred at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida. In that case, a grizzly bear escaped its enclosure and attacked a zookeeper, leading to the bear being shot dead by the zoo’s emergency response team.
The zoo authorities emphasized the importance of safety protocols and expressed gratitude for the support and concern shown by the public.