Brazilian Teenager Fatally Attacked by Lioness at Zoo
A 19-year-old Brazilian man, Gerson de Melo Machado, was tragically killed by a lioness at a zoo in the city of João Pessoa, in the northeast of the country. The incident occurred when Machado climbed a six-meter-high wall and a security fence, then descended into the lion's enclosure by clinging to a tree.
According to authorities, Machado suffered from mental health issues and had dreams of becoming a lion tamer. People who knew him reported that he had a fascination with lions and had always wanted to work with them.
Incident Details
The local government of João Pessoa stated that Machado had "deliberately entered the lioness's enclosure" at the Arruda Câmara park on Sunday morning. Video footage of the attack, widely shared on social media, shows the lioness, "Leona," lying near the glass wall that separates her from visitors, who were shocked to see the young man descending from a tree.
The lioness approached the tree and pulled Machado to the ground. After he managed to get back up, the young man disappeared from view. The zoo's veterinarian, Thiago Nery, defended the park's safety standards and called the incident "totally unforeseen."
Zoo's Response
The zoo stated that "euthanasia is not an option" for Leona, as she had "shown no aggressive behavior outside of the context of the incident." The government released a statement suggesting that Machado's actions may have been a "suicide attempt."
Victim's Background
A child protection counselor, Veronica Oliveira, posted a video on Instagram stating that she had accompanied Machado for eight years while he received institutional care in the city. She added that his mother and grandparents suffered from schizophrenia, but Machado had never received the necessary care from the state.
The incident has raised questions about the zoo's safety measures and the support provided to individuals with mental health issues in the region.
