A 19-year-old man has been killed by a lioness after climbing into its enclosure at a zoo in north-east Brazil, in front of horrified families.
A Tragic Obsession with Big Cats
The victim, identified as Gerson Machado, slipped into the big cat's pen in a shocking incident at Arruda Camara Park, also known as Bica, in the port city of João Pessoa. This was a tragic repeat of his earlier attempts to get close to lions, driven by an obsession with becoming a trainer.
Machado, who had once tried to reach Africa as a plane stowaway in a desperate bid to pursue his dream, was known to police. He had repeatedly breached security due to his fixation with big cats. City police confirmed his Africa dream, stating he had told them he would make the journey 'on foot' after a previous airport security breach.
A Life of Struggle and Mental Health Challenges
The teenager, who spent much of his life in care, struggled with severe mental health issues. Child protection worker Veronica Oliveira, who worked with Gerson for eight years, said he grew up in extreme poverty without a proper family support structure.
She described him as someone who had mental health problems like his mother, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. His own issues meant he was the only one of his siblings not to be taken in by adoptive families.
'Gerson was a child who suffered violations of his rights,' Oliveira told a Brazilian news website. 'He was the son of a mother with schizophrenia, with grandparents who also had mental health issues. He lived in extreme poverty.'
The Fatal Incident and Aftermath
Horror video footage captured the moment the lioness set upon Machado as he neared the ground after clambering down a tree inside the enclosure. He had scaled a 20ft wall to gain access.
City hall officials confirmed the tragedy occurred yesterday morning. In a statement, they said: 'The man killed scaled a 20ft wall and managed to get into the animal enclosure using one of the trees. According to police it was a possible act of suicide. Although security staff tried to stop him, he acted very quickly and died as a result of the injuries the lioness inflicted on him.'
The 26.8-hectare park, which opened in 1921 and is home to over 580 animal species, was immediately closed pending an investigation. Zoo vet Thiago Nery said the lioness had been contained without tranquilliser darts and had obeyed commands to return to her pen, but it took time as she was left 'stressed' and 'in shock'.
Brazilian politician Matheus Laiola commented on the incident, stating: 'A lioness did exactly what a lioness does. Instinct, defence, natural behaviour of a wild animal. Tragedy and error begin when humans ignore basic safety limits.' He added, 'Respecting wildlife is not a choice. It is a rule.'
