Four-year-old girl attacked by lion that broke through netting inside circus.
Seeing the 4-year-old girl standing close to the net and waving a flag, the lion immediately lunged to attack her.
| Lion breaks through safety netting and drags 4-year-old girl away from Russian circus. |
Ksenia, the little girl, miraculously survived the horrific incident, but doctors say she will have "life-long scars" from severe injuries to her face and chest.
One social media user reported that the wild animal even tore through the thin netting as it lunged towards Ksenia. The victim is currently being treated at the Central Republican Hospital in Krasnodar.
"There was a bite mark on the little girl's face, extending from her ear to her chin. A witness recounted that Ksenia's mother had led her closer to the safety net and waved the banner. The lioness reacted to this and used her claws to drag the little girl inside the stage, then bit her on the head."
The circus staff immediately pulled the animal away and took the victim to the hospital. "Currently, the girl's health is stable and not life-threatening," shared Valentina Pavlova, a member of the medical team caring for Ksenia.
Ksenia is currently in intensive care. Edgard Zapashny, director of the Big Moscow Circus, said that both the circus and the girl's mother bear responsibility for the incident.
"I am convinced that the fault lies with the circus owner and director, the lion trainer, and the girl's parents for not paying attention to their child even though they were sitting in the front row," said Zapashny.
