Horror moment performing tiger escapes enclosure, prowls through audience in circus routine gone wrong
A circus routine has taken a terrifying turn after a performing tiger escaped an on-stage enclosure and rushed toward families in the audience.
A circus routine has taken a terrifying turn after a performing tiger escaped an on-stage enclosure and sauntered past families in the audience in Russia.
The horrifying moment at Dovgaluk Circus was captured on camera, showing three big cats and two trainers inside a circular net that was attached to the dome of the venue, The Sun reports.
Then the circus routine went haywire when the net suddenly fell low enough to the ground and one of the striped beasts was able to jump over and rush into the crowd.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The net was jolted up before the other two tigers were able to escape but the audience had already descended into chaos as the loose tiger prowled past terrified families.
Fearful audience members started to flee the big top as the big cat made its way to the back row where a mother and two children appear to be seated just a few rows in front.
According to local media, witnesses detailed the sheer panic that took over the audience.
“The tigers got scared... and one jumped out into the audience,” one witness said.
“Children were screaming, adults running in panic.”
Another bystander said circus staff began ushering people out of the tent before the tiger ‘”ran out onto the street”.
“The animal was running through the rows of seats where there were no people at all,” they said.
The tiger was later found on the street before being taken backstage. Nobody was injured.
Circus director Nikolai Dovgaluk has since released a statement in wake of the incident.
“The trainer put a collar on the tiger, led it to the enclosure, and brought it in without incident,” he said.
“It’s not that there was 100 per cent no threat to the audience, but these are tame tigers, meaning they’re trained like tame animals.
“The most important thing is that there was no panic, and therefore, there was no incident because of that,” he said in an attempt to reassure the public.
Mr Dovgaluk said the net malfunction was a “coincidence” that occurred due to “employee error.”
“It’s impossible to even say anyone was directly at fault,” he said.
