7 Shocking Facts About The Viral 'Mermaid Attacked By Fish' Video: The Chinese Sturgeon Incident

The dream of being a mermaid quickly turned into a terrifying nightmare for one professional performer, Mariia Zelenina, whose shocking underwater encounter with a giant fish became a global viral sensation. The incident, which occurred in an aquarium in China, highlighted the very real, often hidden, dangers faced by "merfolk" performers. As of the current date, December 11, 2025, the footage continues to circulate, sparking intense debate about animal welfare, performer safety, and the ethics of live underwater shows. This deep dive uncovers the full, harrowing story, the identity of the aggressive marine creature, and the critical safety lapses that led to the near-fatal attack. The event serves as a stark reminder that while the aesthetic of a mermaid show is magical and fantastical, the environment is a real, unpredictable ecosystem filled with powerful, wild animals. It has forced the professional mermaiding community to re-examine the stringent safety protocols required to prevent such terrifying incidents from recurring in the future.

The Performer and the Predator: Mariia Zelenina’s Profile

The performer at the center of the viral footage is Mariia Zelenina, a dedicated and experienced aquatic artist whose career took an unexpected and dangerous turn. While the attack was horrifying, her quick thinking and resilience were instrumental in her survival.

• Name: Mariia Zelenina (often referred to as 'Masha' in some reports).
• Age: 22 years old at the time of the incident.
• Nationality: Russian.
• Location of Work: Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park, an aquarium in China.
• Profession: Professional Mermaid Performer/Aquatic Artist.
• The Incident: Attacked by a giant fish during a live underwater performance in the aquarium tank.
• Injury: The fish bit and engulfed her head. She was rushed to the hospital for treatment but was thankfully not severely injured.

Zelenina’s story is a testament to the risks taken by those who pursue the unique profession of mermaiding. She was performing a routine, gliding gracefully through the water, when the unprovoked attack occurred in front of horrified spectators, including children. The video footage captures the moment the large fish lunged, completely engulfing her head and upper torso in its massive mouth, before she managed to push it away and swim to the surface.

7 Shocking Facts Behind the Viral Mermaid Attack

The incident involving Mariia Zelenina and the aggressive fish is more than just a viral clip; it's a complex story involving rare species, professional hazards, and industry neglect. Here are the most compelling facts about the shocking event.

1. The Attacker Was a "Living Dinosaur": The Chinese Sturgeon

The massive fish responsible for the attack was identified as a Chinese Sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). This species is often referred to as a "living dinosaur" due to its ancient lineage, which dates back over 140 million years. Chinese Sturgeons can grow to enormous sizes, reaching lengths of up to 16 feet (5 meters) and weighing over 1,000 pounds (450 kg). Their size, combined with a powerful, cartilage-based skeleton and large, toothless mouth, made the attack terrifying, as the fish was capable of swallowing the performer’s head whole.

2. The Attack Was Likely a Feeding Mistake

Despite the horrifying nature of the footage, experts believe the Chinese Sturgeon was not intentionally trying to "eat" the performer. Sturgeons are generally bottom-feeders, using their sensitive barbels (whiskers) to locate food in the substrate. The most likely explanation is that the fish, being large, curious, and possibly stressed, mistook the movement or the shiny material of Zelenina’s mermaid tail or head for a large food item. The fish's mouth is designed for suction feeding, which explains why it was able to engulf her head so completely.

3. The Performer Was Rushed to the Hospital

Following the incident, Mariia Zelenina was immediately taken to the hospital. While the video looked catastrophic, she was fortunate to escape with relatively minor injuries, primarily a severe shock and soft tissue damage, rather than the decapitation or severe trauma that many viewers feared. She later clarified that she was not forced back to work immediately after the attack, dispelling false rumors that had circulated on social media.

4. The Incident Exposed Major Aquarium Safety Lapses

The viral video brought the issue of professional mermaid safety into the spotlight. Reports from within the industry suggest that some aquariums and tourist attractions, particularly in Asia, have been cutting corners on essential safety protocols to boost profits. These lapses can include insufficient staff training, inadequate separation between performers and large, potentially dangerous marine life, and a lack of clear emergency procedures. The sturgeon attack served as a "sobering reminder" to the mermaiding community about the inherent risks of working with wild animals.

5. The Video Originated from Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park

The performance took place at the Xishuangbanna Primitive Forest Park in Yunnan, China. The park is a major tourist attraction, and the presence of such large, ancient fish in a performance tank with human performers raises serious questions about animal management and the risk assessment conducted by the facility's management. The park itself was the original source of the video footage that quickly went viral.

6. The Mermaid Community’s Response Was Mixed

The professional mermaiding community reacted with a mixture of horror and professional concern. While many expressed relief that Zelenina was safe, the incident highlighted the difference between performing in controlled, open-water environments (like pools or calm seas) and the unpredictable nature of working in a closed aquarium with large marine species. Many professional mermaids who travel globally emphasized that they have "plethora of safety procedures" in place, suggesting the Xishuangbanna incident was an outlier due to poor management.

7. The Performer's Resilience and Return to Work

Despite the traumatic experience, Mariia Zelenina displayed remarkable resilience. In interviews following the attack, she downplayed the severity, stating, "I remember this situation as a joke, I'm not afraid of these fish." Her ability to push the massive sturgeon off her head and swim to safety demonstrated the physical and mental training required for the job. Her quick recovery and willingness to continue her career, albeit with a renewed focus on safety, cemented her status as a figure of strength in the aquatic performance world.

The Future of Mermaiding: Balancing Magic and Marine Biology

The viral incident has become a pivotal moment for the professional mermaiding industry. It has moved the conversation beyond the fantasy and into the realm of occupational safety and marine biology. The key takeaway for aquariums and performers worldwide is the necessity of rigorous, non-negotiable safety protocols.

Essential Safety Protocols for Mermaid Performers

Professional mermaiding is a highly skilled form of freediving, and the performers must adhere to strict guidelines, especially when sharing a tank with large marine life. The incident underscores the importance of:

• Species Separation: Ensuring that performers are not in the water with species that pose a significant threat, either through aggression or accidental feeding behavior.
• Dedicated Safety Divers: Having trained safety divers or spotters on constant standby, ready to intervene instantly.
• Emergency Training: Regular drills for performers and staff on how to handle animal encounters, equipment failure, and medical emergencies underwater.
• Animal Behavior Monitoring: Constant observation of the marine animals for signs of stress, territoriality, or unusual feeding patterns before and during a performance.

Ultimately, the story of the mermaid attacked by a fish is a cautionary tale. It reveals the thin line between a magical performance and a dangerous wildlife encounter. While Mariia Zelenina was lucky to escape with her life, the incident has served as a critical, high-profile wake-up call, demanding higher standards for the safety of all aquatic artists globally.