A circus trainer was mauled by a lioness in Russia. This is the moment a lioness mauled a circus trainer during a performance in Russia. Horrific footage from the incident shows the big cat attacking trainer Maxim Orlov during a performance of the Ural Travelling Circus on Saturday. According to Daily Mail, scared spectators rushed out of the circus tent as things took a wrong turn and the lioness, named Vega, turned on its tamer. Disturbing visuals from the ring show the lioness jumping on Maxim Orlov -- who was advancing towards it with a pole -- and biting him several times.