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Tragic Incident at Brazilian Zoo: Man Fatally Attacked After Entering Lion Enclosure
João Pessoa, Paraíba – A 19-year-old man, identified as Gerson de Melo Machado, died Sunday morning after deliberately entering a lion enclosure at Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park, known locally as Bica. The incident, captured on video, shows Machado scaling a 26-foot fence before being attacked by a lioness.
Machado, who reportedly harbored a long-standing aspiration to become a lion tamer and had a history of mental health issues, including a schizophrenia diagnosis, was pronounced dead from his injuries. Local media, Correio Braziliense, cited child welfare counselor Verônica Oliveira, who had monitored Machado since childhood, confirming his mental health struggles and his dream of traveling to Africa to tame lions. Oliveira recounted an instance where Machado was found hiding in a plane’s landing gear, believing it would transport him to Africa.
The zoo confirmed the tragic events in a statement, expressing deep regret for the incident. “The Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park (Bica) deeply regrets what happened this Sunday morning, when a man deliberately invaded the lioness’ enclosure, resulting in his death,” the statement read. “This is an extremely sad episode for everyone, and we express our solidarity and condolences to the family and friends of the man.”
Witnesses described the horrific scene as Machado climbed the towering fence and descended a nearby tree. A lioness in the enclosure reportedly spotted him, approached the base of the tree, and waited.
As Machado neared the ground, the lioness sprang, attacking him. He briefly attempted to flee into the bushes but was attacked again, with the mauling continuing out of public view.
Following the incident, the park was immediately closed to facilitate safety procedures and the removal of the body. Zoo officials stated that Bica will remain closed to visitors until the ongoing investigation and all official procedures are completed.
In the aftermath, the zoo has affirmed that the lioness involved will not be euthanized. They emphasized that the attack was a direct result of deliberate trespassing, an incident deemed “completely unpredictable” and “outside of any scenario within the park’s routine.” The zoo reported that the lioness is currently stressed but shows no signs of aggressive behavior that would warrant euthanasia, stating, “Leona is healthy, does not exhibit aggressive behavior outside the context of the incident, and will not be euthanized.”