On January 31, an unexpected incident occurred during a circus performance at a farm in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province. A lion participating in the show suddenly clawed at a staff member, causing panic among the audience.

According to eyewitnesses, the lion was performing a routine act but appeared visibly agitated. During the performance, it grew restless. When a staff member outside the iron cage attempted to shoo the lion to continue the act, the lion lunged and tightly grabbed the worker’s arm with its sharp claws.

The sudden attack lasted about three minutes. During the struggle, the lion attempted to drag the injured handler closer to the cage bars, causing him to lose his balance and fall. The audience was terrified, running in all directions amid screams and panic. The situation briefly descended into chaos.

Farm staff and security personnel quickly responded, evacuating the audience and implementing necessary safety measures.

A farm spokesperson later clarified that the lion only tore the handler’s clothes without causing any real injury. "The lion has no large teeth, so it wasn’t dangerous," the spokesperson explained. "The handler wasn’t hurt—just a torn shirt."