A 19-year-old man lost his life on Sunday morning after deliberately entering a lioness enclosure at the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park (known locally as Bica) in João Pessoa, Brazil.
Gerson de Melo Machado scaled a roughly six-metre wall and security fencing before using a tree to lower himself into the enclosure. Visitors captured the moment on video as the lioness, named Leona, approached the base of the tree. When Machado neared the ground, she attacked, pulling him down. He briefly tried to move away but was attacked again. He died from his injuries, with officials later confirming severe bleeding from wounds to the neck vessels.
Park and municipal authorities stated that Machado intentionally invaded the enclosure in a rapid and unexpected manner. Security staff attempted to intervene but could not prevent him from entering. The lioness acted on instinct, and zoo officials have confirmed she will not be euthanized. The park closed temporarily while investigations continue.
Those who knew Machado said he had long dreamed of becoming a lion tamer and had struggled with mental health challenges, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia. His child welfare counsellor described a young man whose aspirations and difficulties had shaped much of his life.
