A black bear suddenly attacks a keeper after finishing a round of performance at Hangzhou Safari Park in East China's Zhejiang Province on December 7, 2025. Other staff immediately intervened and used props to separate the bear from the keeper, according to media reports. Photo: Screenshot from social media, Rednote.

The official social media account of Hangzhou Safari Park released a video provided an update on the situation on December 6, 2025 showing The bear and the keeper have since "reconciled." Photo: Screenshot from the official social media account of Hangzhou Safari Park

According to media reports, a black bear suddenly attacked a keeper after finishing a round of performance at Hangzhou Safari Park in East China's Zhejiang Province on Saturday. Other staff immediately intervened and used props to separate the bear from the keeper. This incident has sparked online debate about whether animal performances should be banned.

Multiple social media users posted videos of the incident recorded during the bears' show. The footage shows audience members watching as two keepers guided two black bears onto the stage for another round of performance. One bear successfully performed, while the other, nearing the stage, suddenly pounced on its keeper, knocking the keeper to the ground. The fallen keeper struggled to escape while nearby staff grabbed chairs and poles to separate the animal from the keeper. After the bear was pulled away, it lunged at the keeper again, and staff had to use force to separate them.

The official social media account of Hangzhou Safari Park posted a notice on Saturday, stating that neither the keeper nor the bear was injured. The park explained that the incident occurred as the keeper was carrying a large bag of carrots and apples; the bear saw the bag, became excited, and quickly pounced on the keeper in an attempt to get the food, according to the notice. The notice also stated that the keeper said the incident reminded him to be more careful in dealings with the bear in the future. 

This incident has sparked a debate among netizens about whether animal performances should be banned. One user, Momo, commented, "Safety must be a priority, and we should have respect for animals. Never think of them as cute and docile, or that we can control them." Another user, Zero Geqian Qianqian, also emphasized the need to focus on safety. Many others have called for the cancellation of animal performances. A user named "Don't Call Me Ma Ma Ma" asked, "When will animal performances be canceled? Isn't it in animals' nature to be food-driven and protective of their food?"

Some users expressed sympathy for the bear. A user named "The Girl is Out, I'm at Home" said, "A small bear is like a little baby. How could we make it perform? If it has apples, let it eat! If it were your child, would you make it perform first and then eat? If it's hungry, then let it perform how to eat, it would be happier, the keeper and the bear would be more harmonious, and the audience would still enjoy it."

User "A Wild Horse" received several likes for her comment on the park's notice, stating, "Wild animals still have their wild nature. Why are you training them to perform? You are supposed to educate the public about wild animals, not force them to do tricks like jumping through hoops. Animal performances should not be the focus of a wildlife park."

Some users also compared this incident with practices at other zoos in China. Netizen "Su Wan Yu" praised Hongshan Forest Zoo in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, saying, "The management there is really great. At Hongshan Forest Zoo, animal performances and paid feeding have been eliminated. Humans are visitors, and animals are the real masters."

After the video of the bear attack went viral online and sparked debate, the zoo did not directly respond to netizens' questions. It released a video that not only captured the moment of the attack but also provided an update on the situation: The bear and the keeper have since "reconciled." While feeding the black bear carrots, the keeper gently petted its head and said, "If you want carrots, why did you snatch mine? [Even if you didn't], I'll still give you some." The black bear stood calmly and ate peacefully, displaying a gentle demeanor.