A tamer has been mauled by a lioness as children and parents fled in terror - leading to calls to ban the use live animals in shows in Russia.
The beast twice clawed and sank her teeth into trainer Maxim Orlov after brawling with another lioness in the ring. The tamer and other circus staff eventually fended off the big cat - called Vega - with poles but she caused injuries which required hospital treatment.
A pregnant woman reportedly suffered an epileptic seizure from shock after the show in Russia descended into mayhem. Before Orlov was attacked two lionesses - Vega and Santa - were seen fighting aggressively in the ring in Moshkovo, Novosbirsk region.
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