A circus worker was killed by a bear while locked in a cage together with the animal.

28-year-old Valentin Bulich from Russia was an aspiring circus worker who aimed to become an animal trainer before he was mauled by a bear.

According to the reports, the young man who attempted “to teach himself how to become a trainer” was killed by a Great Moscow State Circus bear after entering the animal’s cage and locking himself in.

As Valentin’s mother, Elena, said, her son dreamed of becoming an animal tamer following successful work with bear cubs.

In an attempt to develop his skills as a trainer, the 28-year-old reportedly snatched the keys of the circus bear’s cage and visited the animal when the trainers were not at work.

After locking himself in the cage with the performing bear, Valentin was scalped and clawed to death.

Following the brutal death, it was revealed that the circus worker was killed by Yasha, a bear often seen on stage together with his trainer Oleg Alexandrov.

Previously, the same bear was also on display outside the circus and was trusted enough to be allowed in the proximity of visitors. In one photo, a member of a Moscow football team is seen scratching the bear’s belly as the animal is lying on its back.

“Valentin locked the cage from the inside. He had no chance to survive – the bear removed his scalp,” the authorities explained.

After the passing of her son, heartbroken Elena admitted that her son had most likely “overestimated” his bear handling abilities.

“He apparently decided that since he could cope with cubs, he would find an approach to an adult bear. He was very trusting, kind and naive,” the mom said in an interview with Moskovsky Komsomolets.

“He wanted to try to find a common language with the big bear. He told me he was already good at communicating with cubs.”

According to the circus officials, the bear will not be killed as a result of the attack.

 

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