JOAO PESSOA, BRAZIL – A 19-year-old's obsession with big cats ended in tragedy on Sunday. Gerson de Melo Machado was mauled to death in front of horrified visitors after breaking into a lion enclosure at a Brazilian zoo to pursue his dream of becoming a "lion tamer."
The Attack
The horrific scene unfolded at the Parque Zoobotanio Arruda Camara. Witnesses watched helplessly as Machado scrambled over a 20-foot wire-topped fence and climbed down a tree directly into the lioness's pen.
A lioness named Leona spotted the intruder immediately. Video footage shows the animal running to the foot of the tree as Machado climbed down. She suddenly pounced on him and dragged him behind a wall. Witnesses say Machado briefly reappeared and tried to run, but the powerful animal leaped on him again, ending his life.
A Troubled History
Local media reports reveal a heartbreaking backstory. Machado had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in institutions as a child. His fixation on lions was well-known.
He had previously attempted to stow away in the landing gear of an Africa-bound plane hoping to become a lion tamer, but he was discovered and referred to Child Protective Services before the plane took off.
Fate of the Lion
The zoo was immediately closed following the incident. In a statement, officials confirmed that Leona the lioness would not be euthanized. They emphasized that the animal was not at fault for the tragedy.
The zoo stated that Leona is healthy and does not exhibit aggressive behavior outside of this specific incident. She remains under observation to monitor her stress levels following the event.
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