A tragic incident unfolded in Brazil when a 19-year-old was fatally attacked after entering a lion enclosure on Sunday morning.
Footage that quickly spread online shows the young man climbing a towering 26-foot fence to access the lioness’s habitat at the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park, commonly known as Bica, located in João Pessoa, Paraíba.
Local news outlet Correio Braziliense identified the deceased as Gerson de Melo Machado, who harbored dreams of becoming a lion tamer. According to reports, Machado struggled with mental health issues and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The zoo released a statement confirming that the man intentionally breached the enclosure, was subsequently attacked by the lioness, and succumbed to his injuries.
A lioness is seen on a platform within a zoo exhibit on August 19, 2024. (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu)
In a statement shared on social media, the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park (Bica) expressed deep sorrow over the incident that occurred on Sunday morning. “A man intentionally entered the lioness’s enclosure, resulting in his death,” the statement read. “This is a profoundly sad event for everyone involved, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
In the video, witnesses watched in horror as the teen climbed the towering fence and shimmied down a nearby tree. A lion in the enclosure spotted him, prowled to the base of the tree and waited as he continued his descent.
When the boy got close enough to the ground, the lion sprang on him. He tried to flee, disappearing into the bushes and briefly reappearing during his escape, only to be leapt on again by the lioness. The mauling then continued out of view behind a wall.
Zoo patrons look through a window at a lion enclosure on Feb. 21, 2008. (Justin Sullivan)
Following the incident, the park was closed to allow for safety procedures and the removal of the body. The zoo stated that Bica will remain closed to visitors until the investigation and all official procedures are complete.
Machado had struggled with mental health issues throughout his life, and his mother had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to Correio, which cited child welfare counselor Verônica Oliveira, who had been monitoring him since childhood. Oliveira told the outlet that Machado had always dreamed of traveling to Africa to become a lion tamer and was once caught hiding in the landing gear of a plane, believing it would take him there.
The zoo stated it does not plan to euthanize the lion, emphasizing that the killing resulted from deliberate trespassing, an incident that was “completely unpredictable” and “outside of any scenario within the park’s routine.”
Visitors view two lions through a window in their enclosure on July 22, 2025. (Justin Sullivan)
The lion is reportedly stressed but shows no signs of behavior that would warrant concern for euthanasia.
“It is important to emphasize that euthanasia was never considered,” the zoo said. “Leona is healthy, does not exhibit aggressive behavior outside the context of the incident, and will not be euthanized.”
