A 19-year-old man was killed by a lioness on Sunday, Nov. 30, after climbing into the animal’s enclosure at Parque Zoobotanico Arruda Camara in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. Gerson de Melo Machado scaled a 20-foot wall and descended a tree into the enclosure in full view of zoo visitors who watched helplessly as the attack unfolded.
According to officials, Machado climbed over the 20-foot wall and navigated safety fencing before shimmying down a tree to reach the ground level of the enclosure where the lioness, named Leona, was housed. Security personnel attempted to intervene and stop him, but he moved too quickly for them to prevent his entry into the dangerous area. The incident occurred during regular zoo operating hours when multiple visitors were present at the facility.
Video footage captured by zoo visitors shows the lioness positioned near the glass barrier as Machado made his descent. The animal immediately approached the tree and pulled him to the ground. Witnesses watched as the attack continued, with Machado briefly reappearing before the lioness attacked again. The zoo confirmed his death and immediately closed the facility following the incident.
The zoo released a statement acknowledging the incident and emphasizing its commitment to safety protocols. The facility announced it would remain closed to the public while authorities conducted their investigation. Officials stressed that the park maintains strict safety standards and is cooperating fully with law enforcement and investigative bodies to determine the complete circumstances surrounding the breach.
Machado had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been institutionalized multiple times throughout his life. He had received assistance for eight years from child welfare services. Veronica Oliveira, a child welfare counselor who worked with him, provided insight into his background and struggles. She revealed that Machado had long harbored a dream of becoming a lion tamer and had developed an intense fascination with the animals.
“He was 19 years old, but when he spoke, I believe his cognitive ability was no more than that of a 5-year-old,” Oliveira said in statements to local media. His fixation on lions had previously led him to extreme actions, including an incident where he hid in the landing gear of an airplane in an attempt to fly to Africa, where he hoped to work with lions in their natural habitat. Airport officials discovered him before the plane departed and referred him to welfare services.
Oliveira described Machado’s situation as the result of systemic failures. “Gerson is the result of a system that always excluded him; he’s been caged for years,” she explained. The counselor noted that his family lived in extreme poverty and that his mother suffered from schizophrenia. Despite his documented mental health challenges, she said he struggled to receive adequate psychiatric treatment. According to local media reports, a court had ordered Machado to a psychiatric hospital, but officials were unable to locate him after the ruling.
Local authorities indicated that preliminary investigations have not ruled out the possibility that Machado’s actions may have been a suicide attempt. Police continue to examine all aspects of the case as part of their ongoing investigation. The combination of his mental health history, previous institutionalization, and the deliberate nature of his actions has raised questions about intent.
Following the attack, zoo officials released updates about the lioness’ condition and future. In a statement posted to Instagram, the facility confirmed that Leona experienced high stress levels as a result of the incident and remains under continuous observation by veterinary staff. The zoo emphasized that the animal typically shows no aggressive behavior and that her response was a reaction to an unprecedented intrusion into her space.
The zoo made clear that euthanasia was never under consideration for the lioness. Officials stated that Leona is healthy and that the protocol for such situations involves monitoring, behavioral assessment, and specialized care rather than putting the animal down. The facility’s veterinary team, handlers, and technicians are focused on ensuring the lioness recovers emotionally and can safely resume her normal routine.
Zoo officials defended their safety measures, noting that the enclosure features multiple layers of protection. The incident was described as completely unforeseeable and outside any normal operational scenario. The facility, which houses hundreds of animal species, has maintained that it follows rigorous technical standards designed to protect both visitors and animals.
The case highlights complex issues surrounding mental health care, institutional oversight, and public safety at zoological facilities. Oliveira expressed hope that the incident would serve as a lesson for improving care systems. She noted her feeling of powerlessness regarding Machado’s death and expressed hope that others in similar situations might receive better support and have happier outcomes.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lion-kills-teen-enclosure-zoo-brazil-arruda-camara-zoobotanical-park/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/lion-killed-zoo-visitor-brazil-b2875803.html
https://people.com/teenager-mauled-to-death-by-lioness-at-zoo-11859207
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/brazil/man-mauled-death-lion-climbing-zoo-enclosure-rcna246850
https://brazilreports.com/man-killed-by-lion-at-brazil-zoo-had-history-of-mental-illness-local-media/7231/
