A 19-year-old man was fatally mauled by a lioness after illegally climbing into her enclosure at Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara (Bica Park), authorities confirmed.
The teenager, identified by local media as Gerson de Melo Machado, scaled a wall over 20 feet (about six meters), slipped past protective fencing, and descended a tree inside the lioness’s enclosure on Sunday.
Horrified visitors watched as the big cat, named Leona, pounced almost immediately and dragged him behind a barrier; though the man briefly reappeared, he was struck again and died from his injuries.
WATCH: (Graphic)
O cara inventou de invadir a jaula do leão, na Bica, em João Pessoa. Não deve ter escapado. pic.twitter.com/Sl2u4w36cA
— Caolho (@CPreparado) November 30, 2025
Machado was reportedly known to authorities for longstanding mental health issues.
A child-welfare counselor who had followed him for years said he had expressed a lifelong fascination with big cats, once even attempting to stow away on a flight to Africa to see them.
In the wake of the tragedy, the zoo temporarily closed its gates and launched an internal investigation.
“We inform you that Bica will remain closed to visitors until the conclusion of the investigations and official procedures, prioritizing safety and transparency and our commitment to the safety of our visitors, employees, and animals,” according to a joint statement, Brazil Reports reported.
Officials stressed the facility meets technical safety standards and described the man’s entry as a “deliberate trespass.”
The zoo announced that Leona will not be euthanized.
In a public statement, caretakers said the lioness is “healthy” and exhibits “no aggressive behavior outside the context of the incident.”
She remains under close observation and is receiving specialized care to help her recover from emotional trauma.
According to the statement:
Leona, the lioness of Parque Arruda Câmara, is well and will continue to receive all necessary care. After the incident, she was immediately assessed by the technical team and is under continuous observation and monitoring, as she experienced a high level of stress.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REINFORCE THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF EUTHANASIA HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED AT ANY TIME.
Leona is healthy, does not exhibit aggressive behavior outside the context of the incident, and will not be sacrificed. The protocol in situations like this provides exactly what is being done: monitoring, behavioral assessment, and specialized care
Bica’s team, veterinarians, treaters, and technicians, is fully dedicated to the well-being of Leona, ensuring that she is well, emotionally stabilized, and safely resumes her routine.
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