A 19-year-old man was mauled to death after climbing into a lion enclosure in Brazil on Sunday morning.
A viral video captured the incident, showing the victim climbing an approximately 7-meter-high fence to enter the lioness enclosure at the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park, locally known as Bica, in João Pessoa, Paraíba.
Local media Correio Braziliense identified the victim as Gerson de Melo Machado, who had long aspired to become a lion tamer. Machado reportedly had mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The zoo confirmed in a statement that the individual deliberately entered the enclosure, was attacked by the animal and did not survive his injuries.
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A lioness stands on a platform in a zoo on August 19, 2024. (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu)
“The Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park (Bica) deeply regrets what happened this Sunday morning, when a man deliberately entered the lioness’ enclosure, resulting in his death,” the zoo said in a statement on social media on Sunday. “This is an extremely sad event for everyone, and we extend our solidarity and condolences to the man’s family and friends.”
In the videoWitnesses watched in horror as the teenager climbed the towering fence and slid down a nearby tree. A lion in the enclosure saw him, crept to the base of the tree and waited as he continued his descent.
When the boy got close enough to the ground, the lion lunged at him. He tried to flee, disappeared into the bushes and briefly reappeared during his escape, but was jumped again by the lioness. The tearing then continued out of sight behind a wall.
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Zoo visitors look through a window at a lion enclosure on February 21, 2008. (Justin Sullivan)
After the incident, the park was closed 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 completed.
Machado had struggled with mental health issues throughout his life, and his mother had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to Correio, who cited child welfare counselor Verônica Oliveira, who had monitored him since childhood. Oliveira told the outlet that Machado had always dreamed of traveling to Africa to become a lion tamer and that he was once caught hiding in the landing gear of a plane, believing it would take him there.
The zoo stated that it had no intention of euthanizing the lion, insisting that the killing was the result of deliberate trespass, an incident that was “completely unpredictable” and “beyond any scenario within the park’s routine.”
Visitors view two lions through a window in their enclosure on July 22, 2025. (Justin Sullivan)
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The lion is reportedly stressed, but shows no signs of behavior that would warrant euthanasia.
“It is important to emphasize that euthanasia was never considered,” the zoo said. “Leona is healthy, does not show aggressive behavior outside the context of the incident and will not be euthanized.”
