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Man killed by lioness after scaling 20ft wall to jump into zoo enclosure

Gerson de Melo Machado, 19, with a history of schizophrenia, deliberately entered the lioness enclosure at Arruda Câmara Zoo, dying from injuries inflicted by the animal, officials said.

  • On Sunday in João Pessoa, a lion killed 19-year-old Gerson de Melo Machado after he climbed into the Arruda Câmara Zoo Botanical Park enclosure, a video circulated showing the attack.
  • Veronica Oliveira, child protection worker, said Machado had a troubled upbringing and needed mental-health support, with acquaintances reporting his long-standing fascination with lions including a stowaway attempt.
  • Authorities said he climbed a wall of more than 6 meters and slid down a tree into the enclosure, with similar incidents reported, including a January killing in Uzbekistan.
  • The park has been closed pending security reviews at Arruda Câmara Zoo Botanical Park, while Brazil's Environment Secretariat continues its investigation.
  • João Pessoa City Hall expressed condolences and said security measures meet technical standards but the man persisted in trespassing, while Matheus Laiola, Brazilian politician, posted `A lioness did exactly what a lioness does` urging respect for wildlife.
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A 19-year-old boy died on Sunday after being attacked by a lioness when illegally entering his cage at Arruda Câmara Zoobotanic Park, located in João Pessoa, capital of the state of Paraíba, in Brazil. Authorities investigate whether the act was a suicide, as the victim suffered from a mental disorder. According to local media G1, the young man, identified as Gerson de Melo Machado, climbed a wall of approximately six meters despite warnings fro…

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The death of Gerson de Melo Machado, a 19-year-old who entered a lioness’ cage on his own in the zoological park of João Pessoa, Brazil, has shocked the country and reopened the debate on the lack of protection of people with severe mental illness. The case revealed a life marked by vulnerability, lack of adequate treatment and a fate that some describe as “an announced tragedy.” Gerson’s complex storyAccording to El País, Machado, known as ‘Vaq…

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Drama in broad daylight in a Brazilian zoological park. A 19-year-old man died on Sunday, attacked by a lioness after entering his enclosure voluntarily, in front of the visitors.

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CNN Brasil broke the news in Brazil on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
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