A shocking event at a Russian circus in 2019 demonstrated the dangers of using wild animals for entertainment.
Yashka, a 660lb Russian bear who had been a staple performer in the Anshlag Circus, regularly pulled a cart as part of the “Bow-legged and the Wheelbarrow” performance. That evening, his behavior took a devastating turn.
Aging and unwell
The trigger wasn’t the bright lights or the noise of the crowd. It wasn’t the spectators. Yashka lunged at his trainer, Ruslan Solodyuk, perhaps because he was a powerful wild predator confined to life as a performer — forced to execute routines for crowds while confined in an inadequate space.
Yashka clamped his jaws onto Solodyuk’s arm, maintaining his grip as staff members kicked at the bear and attempted to control him with an electrical device.
According to local reports, the bear then moved toward the spectator section, coming alarmingly close to audience members. The crowd, initially confused about whether this was intended as part of the performance, soon grasped the danger. Spectators rushed toward the exits in terror. The scene underscored the risks of using wild animals as entertainment.
Disputed with circus management
Speaking to Daily Storm, a Russian news outlet, Solodyuk told Fox News that he was working with authorities following the attack and stated he had never witnessed such behavior from Yashka before. He explained the incident by saying:
“Yashka is enormous (weighs 660 pounds), unwell, and elderly — 16 years old. He frequently experiences joint pain… During spring and autumn, like humans, Yashka’s condition deteriorates. This time, he dropped down on stage and seemingly experienced pain.”
The circus administration, rather than acknowledging these concerns, attempted to shift blame to the audience, suggesting the bear was agitated by camera flashes. While this might have contributed, a properly cared-for animal shouldn’t react with such aggression — particularly one under circus control.
Solodyuk mentioned that he wasn’t a permanent circus employee but had secured the performance through online contract work. He contested the circus management’s assertion that flash photography prompted the attack.
While the circus director reported that neither the trainer nor bear suffered serious harm, this event highlights why wild animals shouldn’t be used in circus acts. They aren’t props for shows.
They’re sentient beings who should remain in their natural environments, not enclosed and made to perform artificial routines. Yashka’s outburst likely stemmed from the distress and discomfort these animals endure in captivity.
Society needs to reassess its acceptance of animal-based circus acts. No creature should endure such conditions. Yashka’s incident should prompt us to withdraw support from businesses that exploit animals for profit. Animals like Yashka belong in the wild, not spending their lives in captivity for human amusement.
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