A horrifying incident occurred at a zoo in Brazil on the 1st: a 19-year-old man climbed over a 6-meter-high wall and entered a lion enclosure, where he was immediately attacked and killed by a lioness in front of dozens of visitors.
The incident took place at the Arruda Câmara Park Zoo in João Pessoa, the capital of Paraíba State in northeastern Brazil.
The deceased, Machado, had long been obsessed with large felines and claimed his dream was to become a "lion trainer." Police disclosed that he had been arrested multiple times in the past for breaking into restricted areas of the zoo to get close to the lions. In 2023, he even tried to stow away on a GOL Airlines passenger jet by hiding in the landing gear in an attempt to reach Africa. When discovered, he told police, "Even if I have to walk, I’ll find a way to get to Africa."
According to Oliveira, a child protection worker familiar with him, Machado grew up in extreme poverty. His mother suffered from schizophrenia, and many family members had mental illnesses. Since childhood, he was cared for by social welfare agencies and was the only one among his siblings not adopted.
The man may have had self-harm or suicidal tendencies
Footage recorded by witnesses shows that after climbing the 6-meter-high wall, Machado slid down an internal tree in the enclosure and was immediately pounced on and mauled by the lioness upon landing, resulting in fatal injuries. The zoo stated that security staff tried to stop him, but he acted extremely quickly and staff were unable to prevent the tragedy in time.
Initial police investigations indicate that Machado may have had self-harm or suicidal tendencies. The zoo and city government expressed condolences to his family and announced a temporary closure of the zoo for a thorough investigation.
The fate of the lioness involved has drawn public attention. The zoo emphasized that the animal was simply acting on instinct and will not be euthanized because of the incident, though she is currently traumatized and will need time to recover.