This Is Why Lions Shouldnt Be In The Circus.

[spoilt lab lives here]

Trainer savaged by lion

An American tourist has filmed an incredible lion attack at a circus in the Ukraine.

Doug Shephard was at the show on Saturday in the city of Lviv with his wife and two children, when they witnessed trainer Oleksie Pinko struggling to fend off a lion with a metal bar.

The lion then lunged at Mr Pinko, charging him to the edge of the arena.

Another lion then attacked him from the other side, biting down on his arm.

Several trainers battled to get the lion off Mr Pinko, spraying the lion with a high-pressure hose.

There was just a net separating the lions and the crowd.

Doug Shephard's wife Masha told CBS News, "I was just grabbing my daughter and trying to run because I thought that they were going to come out."

Mr Pinko was taken to hospital where he is in a stable condition.

Mr Shephard, said, "I've been to some great circus performances there. My son said, 'I don't want to go to the circus ever again,' and I don't blame him."

Edited October 4, 2010 by spoilt lab lives here

[conztruct]

How awful - what really gets me is why does someone think about filming an incident like this when it's happening instead of helping people to safety etc.....?

I wonder how much he sold the footage for - the only thing more tragic than the lion attacking the trainer (i don't agree with these circus acts but it's still unfortunate and tragic) is someone trying to make a buck by filming it.

[steve11]

Shame the lion didnt finish the job.

[flatchat]

I hate live animals in circuses.

[Nekhbet]

funny how we're perfectly happy to keep dogs and make them do tricks all the time yet circus animals are abhorrent

[Guest Tess32]

funny how we're perfectly happy to keep dogs and make them do tricks all the time yet circus animals are abhorrent

Years of domestication maybe?

[Tubbles]

Shame the lion didnt finish the job.

I agree. They are wild animals, not domestic and do not deserve to be caged up and forced to perform tricks for profit.

I also noticed the way that guy was whipping one of the poor lions and wouldn't be surprised if that is common practise. Guess the lion had had enough abuse and decided to give its tormentor a taste of his own medicine.

[Nekhbet]

The animals up there are not wild caught, they are bred in captivity.

As for domestication, I can tell you a domestic dog not handled or socialised when it's a pup will turn into a complete feral, especially in some breeds. Last one I got from that situation was like looking at a wild animal, the same frantic behaviours and look in its eyes. I think we are a little tainted by the domestication argument and place different animals in different categories.

[poochmad]

The trainer was pretty lucky, but I'm not surprised the lion attacked considering how many times it was poked...

[Animal House]

Very sad to see wild animals in a circus (whether they are bred in captivity or not).

It's no life living in a cage, and performing for people.

I'd say the lion was just really peed off with the trainer, after all, he's still alive and I have no doubt the lion could have easily killed him if he wanted to.