Horrific moment when elephant turns over and brutally tramples its handler during traditional Sri Lankan festival before going on rampage
This is the horrific moment an elephant brutally trampled its handler during a traditional Sri Lankan festival before going on a wild rampage.
The Buddhist Perera festival, which took place in the southwestern city of Galle, was rocked when the giant animal lost its cool during a parade.
Shocking footage captured the streets with festival goers, many of whom are children, as they watched the musicians and performers walk down the street.
But while they clap along to the rhythm of the music and enjoy the dancers, a docile elephant lurks in the background behind a group of drummers and an accompanist.
He flaps his ears and takes a slow step forward as the procession continues, but nothing can prepare the locals for the impending eruption.
Without any warning, the wild animal, dressed in red robes, suddenly turns its head with a force strong enough to knock its handler to the ground.
He can be seen trampling the man as the performers rush to the sidelines, leaving spectators stunned as they rush to flee the area.
People jump over the fences where they sat to watch the parade, while others run on foot across the road as the elephant continues its rampage.
The Buddhist Perera festival, which took place in the southwestern city of Galle, was struck with alarm when the giant animal lost its cool during a parade
Footage captured the moment the animal turned its head furiously and slammed its handler into the ground
The elephant then trampled the handler as he struggled to get off the ground
People ran in fright as the wild beast moved through the street in a terrifying frenzy
According to reports, the attacked handler was admitted to a local hospital for treatment and luckily managed to survive the ordeal.
It comes after a woman was rushed to hospital in September after being mauled by a tiger at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, Australia.
The tiger attacked the 47-year-old veteran handler, leaving her with several deep cuts and scratches.
Earlier this year, a circus bear also attacked its trainer in front of screaming children after he made the animal perform violently.
The roller skating bear, a female named Dzhema, was forced to perform tricks during the ironically named ‘Happiness Show’ at Mash Circus, Obnisk, Russia on June 1.
Shocking footage captured by an onlooker showed Dzhema jumping at her cruel trainer as he stood with his back to her.
Last year, a lion suddenly turned and attacked its circus tamer as the audience screamed during the performance in China.
Shocking footage showed the dangerous confrontation between two lions and their tamer on a caged circus stage in Dongning City, northern China, during a performance.
The male lion attacked the man and jumped on the man during the show while the female lion stood by.
The tamer managed to escape the lion’s grasp and the video showed him running to the other side of the cage with the lions hot on his heels.