Black Bear Attacks Zookeeper at Hangzhou Safari Park After Detecting Food Scent

A zookeeper at Hangzhou Safari Park in East China's Zhejiang Province experienced a frightening encounter when a black bear attacked him on Sunday. According to park authorities, the incident occurred because the keeper was carrying a large bag filled with carrots and apples, which attracted the bear's attention. Sensing the food, the bear became excited and jumped on the keeper in an attempt to access the treats. The park administration has confirmed that neither the zookeeper nor the bear sustained injuries during this incident.

Several videos circulating on social media platforms show the distressing moment when the bear knocked the keeper to the ground. The footage reveals the keeper's desperate struggle to free himself while the bear continued its aggressive behavior.

In response to the emergency, other staff members quickly intervened using whatever objects were available nearby—including a basketball hoop, sticks, chairs, and stools—to separate the bear from the fallen keeper.

Despite initially managing to escape, the keeper faced additional danger when the bear lunged at him again. The keeper eventually freed himself from the situation with considerable difficulty.

The incident, which happened during a scheduled performance, has generated significant attention online. According to Global Times, two keepers were guiding two black bears onto the stage for another segment of the show when one bear unexpectedly pounced on its keeper instead of performing as trained.

Following the incident, park management confirmed the zookeeper's safety and announced that the bear has been removed from all public performances. Officials suggested that the smell of treats likely triggered the animal's unexpected behavior.

The video has sparked widespread discussion on social media about animal welfare and the ethics of wildlife performances. Many commenters expressed concerns about the practice of keeping wild animals in captivity for entertainment purposes.

One social media user remarked, "If you lived in a zoo and were required to do tricks for other species, you'd eventually snap too." Another observed, "When he finally got free, the zookeeper went back to fight the bear again."

Others were more critical of the zoo's practices, with one person commenting, "No sympathy. These bears should not be held captive and on top of that, forced to perform 'tricks' for dummies to consume." Another added, "We need to stop using animals for profit."

The incident has reignited debates about animal handling protocols and safety measures employed during live animal performances in zoos and safari parks.