This is the shocking moment a tiger attacks a lion and grabs it by the throat during a performance in a Russian circus.
The incident happened at a circus in the Russian capital of Moscow during the Zapashny brothers show, a pair famous for their animal training skills .
In the video, one of the performers can be seen leading a young lion across the ring when a tiger who was sitting on the side suddenly leaps onto the unsuspecting animal.
The tiger, named Dieter, launches itself at young male lion, David and knocks him to the ground and bites his neck as one of the ring masters begins throwing objects at the pair of fighting big cats.
David manages to throw Dieter off and tries to scramble away but the tiger continues in pursuit of the young lion.
The tiger launched himself from the side where he had been sitting straight on top of the lion and biting his neck to the shock of the audience
One of the circus performers throws a chair at the warring animals in an effort to make them stop but to no avail
Dieter then launches another attack on the lion with the pair rolling on the floor as they fight, and other tigers and lions in the ring run away from the battle.
Both circus performers continue throwing objects at the fighting big cats to no avail until animal trainer Askold Zapashny, 40, shoots a rubber bullet into the air and the pair separate.
Animal trainer and head of the circus Edgard Zapashny, 42, later said the incident was nothing more worrying than a fight between two men.
Askold(left) and Edgard said that the tiger is known for causing fights. The tiger was trying to assert his dominance over the young lion
Reportedly Dieter the tiger is known for starting fights and had decided to show his authority to the young lion David.
Egdard Zapashny said: ‘If he had got a serious grip on the lion’s neck, then most likely he would have strangled him haw we not got involved.
‘The spectators were reportedly safe as they were protected from the ring with a special net that is capable of holding the weight of an adult big cat.
Netizen ‘Era’ said: ‘I have always been curious, what is actually stronger, a lion or a tiger.’
While ‘Normalno obshaetes’ commented: ‘Whoever is stronger is right. This is the law of the jungle.’