Terrifying moment circus lion pounces on four-year-old girl and bites her face caught on camera

Will Stewart news.com.au

The beast pulled the girl into the ring and mauled in Russia, The Sun reports.

The girl named Ksenia survived the big cat attack, but doctors say she will be scarred for life after sustaining serious face and chest injuries.

She had been waving a small flag when the lioness rushed from its trainer despite being on a leash and sprang on the child.

One account said the wild animal broke a flimsy safety net around the circus ring at Uspenskoye village in Krasnodar region.

Valentina Pavlova said she was a member of a medical team which treated the girl at the Central Republican Hospital in Krasnodar.

She said: “There is a bite on her face that goes from ear to chin.

“An eyewitness said her mother had allowed the girl to get close to the safety net and to wave a banner.

“The lioness reacted to this and with its paw pulled the child inside into the arena and sank its teeth into her head.

“The circus team pulled the lioness away and brought the girl to the Central Republican Hospital.

“She is now in stable condition, there is no danger to her life.”

She is being treated in intensive care.

Edgard Zapashny, director of Big Moscow state circus, said both the local circus and the girl’s mother were responsible.

“I firmly believe that the blame lies completely with the owner and director of that travelling circus, the lioness’s trainer and on the adult who came with the child and let go of her while being in the front row.”

Wild animals continue to be used for performances in Russian circuses.

The attack is likely to lead to increased calls to ban the use of performing predators like lions and bears.

This story first appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission.