A tiger killed its trainer during a circus performance in northern Mexico, it emerged today.
Footage posted on YouTube purportedly shows the trainer, American Alexander Crispin circling two tigers during his act for Circo Suarez in Sonora state.
One of the animals then lunges towards the 35-year-old and pulls him to the ground.
Mexican news agency Notimex reported Mr Crispin suffered neck injuries from bites and scratches on Saturday.
He was taken by ambulance to the Red Cross hospital Huatabampo, Sonora where he died while receiving medical care, as a result of hypovolemic shock.
The video shows spectators fleeing the circus tent as two workers beat the tiger to free Mr Crispin, who was pinned to the ground.
It is presumed that the Bengal Tiger was killed by one of the companions of the trainer during the struggle to try to save the trainer’s life.
The owner of Circo Suarez was yesterday called to testify at the Public Ministry in the town of Etchojoa, where the attack occurred.
Valente Malon, who local media says is the owner of the circus currently set up in the town’s Plaza Indigena, was summoned by officials.
In the wild, Bengal tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories to keep their rivals away – but rarely attack humans.
They are powerful nocturnal hunters that travel many miles to find buffalo, deer, wild pigs, and other large mammals.
The tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage and lie in wait and creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal pounce.
A hungry tiger can eat as much as 60lbs in one night, though they usually eat less. Despite their fearsome reputation, most tigers avoid humans however, a few do become dangerous maneaters.
These animals are often sick and unable to hunt normally, or live in an area where their traditional prey has vanished. Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male.
Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory.