Immediately following the incident, all the tigers from the circus involved in the accident were confined to a zoo, sparking a wave of controversy among animal welfare organizations.
Animal trainer Ettore Weber, aged 61, was killed at 7:30 p.m. on July 4, 2019, at the Circo Orgefi, one of Italy’s most famous circuses. At the time, Weber was preparing for an upcoming performance when one tiger knocked him to the ground, and three others joined in the attack.
According to local sources, the four animals mauled the circus trainer for approximately 30 minutes while medical personnel and colleagues watched helplessly, unable to intervene. Doctors reported that Weber died due to multiple injuries, with the most severe being to his spine.
Immediately afterward, all eight tigers from the circus were confined to a zoo, igniting debates among animal welfare organizations. LAV (League Against Vivisection) urged police not to euthanize the tigers involved in the incident. “Tigers need to be preserved and allowed to live in environments suited to their natural instincts,” LAV stated.
The accident involving circus trainer Ettore Weber is pushing Italian authorities to consider banning the use of wild animals in circuses. Following the incident, the Italian parliament discussed prohibiting the use of wild animals in circuses. A similar effort was attempted in 2017 but was unsuccessful.