A tragic incident unfolded in Brazil on Sunday morning when a 19-year-old man lost his life after entering a lion enclosure. The young man was fatally attacked after scaling a 26-foot fence to gain access to the lioness’ area at the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park, commonly known as Bica, located in João Pessoa, Paraíba.

The heartbreaking event was captured on video and has since gone viral. Local news outlet Correio Braziliense has identified the victim as Gerson de Melo Machado. Reports indicate that Machado harbored dreams of becoming a lion tamer and was known to have struggled with mental health issues, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

In an official statement, the zoo confirmed that Machado intentionally entered the lioness’ enclosure, leading to the fatal attack. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the injuries inflicted by the animal.

In a related image from August 2024, a lioness is seen standing on a platform inside a zoo enclosure. (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu)

An lioness stands on a platform at a zoo enclosure on Aug. 19, 2024. (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu)

“The Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park (Bica) deeply regrets what happened this Sunday morning, when a man deliberately invaded the lioness’ enclosure, resulting in his death,” the zoo said in a statement on social media Sunday. “This is an extremely sad episode for everyone, and we express our solidarity and condolences to the family and friends of the man.”

In the video, witnesses watched in horror as the teen climbed the towering fence and shimmied down a nearby tree. A lion in the enclosure spotted him, prowled to the base of the tree and waited as he continued his descent.

When the boy got close enough to the ground, the lion sprang on him. He tried to flee, disappearing into the bushes and briefly reappearing during his escape, only to be leapt on again by the lioness. The mauling then continued out of view behind a wall.

Zoo patrons look through a window at a lion enclosure on Feb. 21, 2008. (Justin Sullivan)

Following the incident, the park was closed to allow for safety procedures and the removal of the body. The zoo stated that Bica will remain closed to visitors until the investigation and all official procedures are complete.

Machado had struggled with mental health issues throughout his life, and his mother had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to Correio, which cited child welfare counselor Verônica Oliveira, who had been monitoring him since childhood. Oliveira told the outlet that Machado had always dreamed of traveling to Africa to become a lion tamer and was once caught hiding in the landing gear of a plane, believing it would take him there.

The zoo stated it does not plan to euthanize the lion, emphasizing that the killing resulted from deliberate trespassing, an incident that was “completely unpredictable” and “outside of any scenario within the park’s routine.”

Visitors view two lions through a window in their enclosure on July 22, 2025. (Justin Sullivan)

The lion is reportedly stressed but shows no signs of behavior that would warrant concern for euthanasia.

“It is important to emphasize that euthanasia was never considered,” the zoo said. “Leona is healthy, does not exhibit aggressive behavior outside the context of the incident, and will not be euthanized.”