19-Year-Old Teen Enters Lion Enclosure and Dies After Suffering Injuries
A 19-year-old man entered the enclosure of a female lion in a zoobotanical park in João Pessoa, Brazil and lost his life.
Authorities reported that the young man, identified as Gerson de Melo Machado, climbed a six-meter wall, went past the safety fencing, and used a tree to get inside the animal’s area.
Based on the initial investigation, it appeared that the teen entered the enclosure on his own. Videos taken by visitors showed the lioness, named Leona, lying near the glass viewing area as people screamed in shock when they noticed the young man climbing down the tree.
The lioness quickly spotted him. She ran toward the tree, pulled him down, and attacked. Witnesses said the tree shook as the teen struggled, managing to stand briefly before disappearing from sight.
The local government later confirmed that he died from injuries caused by the animal.
The zoo expressed deep sadness over the incident and temporarily closed its doors while the investigation continued. In a separate statement, the park clarified that euthanasia was never considered for Leona, who they said was not showing behavior linked to the incident.
The management emphasized that the lioness simply reacted as any wild animal would when someone entered its territory.
Authorities are also looking into the possibility that the act may have been intentional. A child protection counselor, Veronica Oliveira, shared that she had worked with the young man for eight years as he went through various care programs in the city.
Oliveir explained that his mother and grandparents had schizophrenia, but state psychiatrists previously assessed him as having behavioral issues rather than a medical condition.
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