Heartbreaking vid shows injured boy, 3, savaged by PANTHER after ‘clueless dad’s circus pals released beast for a pic’
A TODDLER suffered extremely gruesome injuries after being violently mauled by a panther at a circus.
His clueless dad’s friend, who worked at the Russian circus, stupidly let the panther out of its cage before it savaged the child.
Upsetting footage shows the innocent boy, named Vova, 3, recovering in hospital after the traumatic ordeal with a bandage wrapped around his head.
Heartbreaking pictures further show the multiple serious wounds inflicted on the misled child.
Vova was left with blood pouring from his wounds and excruciating lacerations all over him.
Vova’s mum Svetlana was unaware her ex-husband was taking the nursery-aged child to the Wild Drive circus in Angarsk.
She recounted the awful moment she saw her mutilated son.
Svetlana said: “They released the panther from the cage, and it attacked my son.
“He was crying, his head was covered in blood, there was blood all around.
“As far as I understand, he has friends there at the circus.”
Other witnesses spoke of the sheer horror of the moment when Vova was picked up by Svetlana.
News outlet Readovka said: “When the mother picked up [Vova], he was covered in blood.
“It was hard for her to watch, but the child had to be held in her arms.”
He received multiple stitches along the side of his head.
The child was also kept in hospital for observation after doctors feared he may have contracted rabies from the wild beast
The boy suffered painful wounds to his face, head, back and legs.
Vova is seen playing with his toys in the video despite the horror he endured.
Vova had been taken to the circus by his reckless dad when there were no performances that day.
The unsuspecting boy was then suddenly attacked by the beast who had been foolishly released from its cage.
According to reports, the panther did not belong to the circus and was not involved in any of its performances, meaning it was not trained.
The wild animal instead belonged to one of the dad’s cronies, who let the young boy pose freely with the unpredictable attacker.
A criminal case has been opened against the circus by the Russian Investigative Committee.
If convicted, the panther owner could face up to six years in jail for negligence involving a child.
It is unclear what punishment, if any, the boy’s foolish dad will face for his role in his son’s attack.