Hangzhou Zoo Permanently Halts Bear Shows After Trainer Scuffle

A zoo in east China's Hangzhou has permanently scrapped its black bear performances after a bear knocked down a trainer during a show last week, prompting public concern, Jinan Daily reported.

The incident occurred on December 6 at Hangzhou Safari Park in Fuyang District, when a black bear lunged at a trainer and tried to snatch food he was carrying.

Video circulating online showed the two briefly wrestling on the ground before staff intervened. Neither the trainer nor the bear was injured.

The district's agriculture and rural affairs bureau said on Friday that the zoo had been ordered to end all bear shows, suspend the trainer involved and move him to a non-animal-facing role.

The park must also upgrade and renovate the bear enclosure within a week to improve the animals' living conditions, it added.

"We, just like the public, oppose forcing wild animals into performance shows," a bureau staff member told the media.

The zoo had earlier apologized for the "poor experience" caused to visitors and said it had canceled all bear demonstrations immediately after the incident. It said it was reviewing its emergency protocols and would strengthen staff training.