19-year-old mauled to death after climbing into Brazil zoo lion cage

A 19-year-old man was mauled to demise after climbing right into a lion enclosure in Brazil on Sunday morning.

A viral video captured the incident, exhibiting the sufferer climbing an roughly 7-meter-high fence to enter the lioness enclosure on the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park, regionally referred to as Bica, in João Pessoa, Paraíba.

Native media Correio Braziliense recognized the sufferer as Gerson de Melo Machado, who had lengthy aspired to develop into a lion tamer. Machado reportedly had psychological well being points and was recognized with schizophrenia.

The zoo confirmed in an announcement that the person intentionally entered the enclosure, was attacked by the animal and didn’t survive his accidents.

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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 occurred this Sunday morning, when a person intentionally entered the lioness’ enclosure, leading to his demise,” the zoo mentioned in an announcement on social media on Sunday. “That is an especially unhappy occasion for everybody, and we prolong our solidarity and condolences to the person’s household and associates.”

In the videoWitnesses watched in horror as {the teenager} climbed the towering fence and slid down a close-by tree. A lion within the enclosure noticed him, crept to the bottom of the tree and waited as he continued his descent.

When the boy received shut sufficient to the bottom, the lion lunged at him. He tried to flee, disappeared into the bushes and briefly reappeared throughout his escape, however was jumped once more by the lioness. The tearing then continued behind a wall out of sight.

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Zoo guests look by a window at a lion enclosure on February 21, 2008. (Justin Sullivan)

After the incident, the park was closed for security procedures and the removing of the physique. The zoo acknowledged that Bica will stay closed to guests till the investigation and all official procedures are accomplished.

Machado had struggled with psychological well being points all through his life, and his mom had additionally been recognized with schizophrenia, in response to Correio, who cited little one welfare counselor Verônica Oliveira, who had monitored him since childhood. Oliveira instructed the outlet that Machado had at all times dreamed of touring to Africa to develop into a lion tamer and that he was as soon as caught hiding within the touchdown gear of a aircraft, believing it might take him there.

The zoo acknowledged that it had no intention of euthanizing the lion, insisting that the killing was the results of deliberate trespass, an incident that was “fully unpredictable” and “past any situation throughout the park’s routine.”

Guests view two lions by a window of their enclosure on July 22, 2025. (Justin Sullivan)

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The lion is reportedly careworn, however exhibits no indicators of conduct that might warrant euthanasia.

“It is very important emphasize that euthanasia was by no means thought of,” the zoo mentioned. “Leona is wholesome, doesn’t present aggressive conduct outdoors the context of the incident and won’t be euthanized.”