Teenager mauled to death after breaking into lion enclosure at Brazilian zoo
GRAPHIC: Horror footage shows the moment zoo visitors scream at the 19-year-old to stop as he climbs across a fence and lowers himself into the lion enclosure via a tree.
WARNING: Graphic
A teenager has been mauled to death after breaking into a lion enclosure at a Brazilian Zoo.
Alarming footage filmed by visitors at Arruda Camera Park in Joao Pessoa, shows 19-year-old Gerson Machado making his way along a six-metre high fence before climbing down a palm tree to enter the enclosure.
He was attacked by a lioness as he neared the ground.
The zoo, in Brazil’s north-east, will remain closed until an investigation into the tragedy is concluded, city officials said.
“Although security staff tried to stop him, he acted very quickly and died as a result of the injuries the lioness inflicted on him,” they said.
“The man killed scaled a 20ft wall and managed to get into the animal enclosure using one of the trees.
“According to police it was a possible act of suicide.
“We would like to express our solidarity with the family of the victim of this regrettable incident.”
The regional vetenary council will review the zoo’s surveillance, access control, and management systems as part of the investigation into the incident.
The lioness involved in the incident will not be euthanised, according to local media outlet O Globo.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Arruda Camera Park said the animal is under observation after experiencing “high levels of stress”.
“It is important to emphasise that at no point was euthanasia considered. The lioness is healthy, does not exhibit aggressive behaviour outside the context of the incident, and will not be euthanised,” they said.
“The protocol in situations like this calls for exactly what is being done: monitoring, behavioural assessment, and specialised care.”
Mr Machado, who had a history of mental health issues, had told social workers on multiple occasions about wanting to live among Africa’s big cats and had previously tried to reach Africa as a stowaway on a plane.
Mr Machado was known to local authorities.
Veronica Oliveira, a child protection worker who supported Mr Machado for many years, said he grew up in extreme poverty and a family history of mental illness. She said he needed further support.
“Although reports were requested because a mental disorder was evident, the State said he only had a behavioural problem,” she said, according to O Globo.
“Does someone who enters a lion’s cage, who throws cobblestones at a police car, have a behavioural problem? No, this isn’t just a behavioural problem. Gerson needed treatment, which wasn’t offered.”
Visitors to the zoo can be heard screaming at Mr Machado to stop in video footage of the incident.
“No, don’t go in boy!” one woman yells, while another says, “Oh my god he’s going down!”
Although “stressed”, the lioness was later contained without tranquilliser darts, a zoo vet said.
Originally published as Teenager mauled to death after breaking into lion enclosure at Brazilian zoo
