Key Facts
• On October 30, 2025, a 19-year-old man entered a lion enclosure in João Pessoa, Brazil.
• The man climbed a 6-meter wall and safety barriers to access the enclosure.
• The lioness, named Leona, attacked and fatally injured the man.
• The victim, identified as Gerson de Melo Machado, suffered fatal blood loss from neck injuries.
• Machado had a history of severe mental illness and aspired to be a lion trainer.
• Witnesses captured the incident on video, showing the lioness charging at Machado.
• The zoo, Arruda Câmara Botanical and Zoological Park, remains closed following the incident.
• Authorities stated the enclosure met safety standards, calling the event “unpredictable.”
• Machado had previously attempted dangerous stunts, including sneaking into an airplane’s landing gear.
• Family and experts highlighted Machado’s lack of adequate mental health support.
• The state government suggested the act might have been a suicide attempt.
• The lioness, Leona, will not be euthanized as she displayed no prior aggression.
Summary
A 19-year-old man, Gerson de Melo Machado, was killed by a lioness after entering her enclosure at a zoo in João Pessoa, Brazil, on October 30, 2025. Machado, who suffered from severe mental illness and dreamed of becoming a lion trainer, climbed a 6-meter wall and safety barriers to access the enclosure. The lioness, Leona, attacked him, causing fatal neck injuries. Witnesses captured the incident on video, and authorities confirmed his identity through fingerprints. The zoo remains closed, with officials stating the enclosure met safety standards. Machado’s family and experts highlighted his lack of mental health support, and the state government suggested his actions might have been a suicide attempt. The lioness will not be euthanized, as she showed no prior aggression. The tragedy underscores the need for improved mental health care and safety measures.
