- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:28 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A 19-year-old teenager was mauled to death by a lioness in full view of horrified visitors at the Arruda Camara Zoobotanical Park in Joao Pessoa, Brazil. The victim, identified as Gerson de Melo Machado, died on Sunday morning after deliberately entering the restricted enclosure. According to an official statement from the municipal government, Machado managed to bypass multiple layers of security.
"In a rapid and surprising manner, he climbed a wall over six meters high, scaled the security bars, accessed one of the trees, and entered the enclosure," authorities reported.
Witnesses captured viral videos showing the lioness, Leona, resting near a viewing glass moments before Machado shimmied down a tree into the enclosure. Gasps and screams erupted from onlookers as Leona quickly reacted, rushing to the tree and pulling the teen down.
Graphic Attack Unfolds In Front Of Visitors
In the footage, bushes can be seen shaking violently during the struggle. At one point, the teen briefly stood up before collapsing again and disappearing from sight.
“It got him. It got him,” visitors can be heard saying, followed by repeated cries of “my God!” Flavio Fabres, head of the Joao Pessoa Legal Medical Institute, confirmed that Machado was identified by his fingerprints. The cause of death was recorded as “bleeding due to injuries to the neck vessels.”
Teen Had Longstanding Mental Health Struggles
Reports indicate that Machado had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and struggled with severe mental health issues throughout his life. He reportedly harbored a long-time dream of becoming a lion tamer.
A child welfare counsellor familiar with his case said he once attempted to hide inside an airplane’s landing gear to reach Africa and work with lions. Members of his community also confirmed that Machado’s mother had been diagnosed with the same condition, and that he required constant monitoring.
Zoo Confirms Incident Was Deliberate Trespassing
State environmental authorities conducted an inspection on Monday as the zoo remained closed to the public. The facility emphasized that the attack resulted from deliberate trespassing and insisted the lioness, Leona, would not be euthanised.
Calling the tragedy “completely unpredictable”, the zoo expressed condolences to the teenager’s family and friends.