A teen who was believed to have cognitive issues was mauled to death Sunday by a lioness after he snuck into the animal’s enclosure.
The incident occurred at the Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, according to a press release shared by the zoo on Instagram. The teen “deliberately invaded the lioness’s enclosure,” according to a translation.
“As soon as the incident was reported, the park was immediately closed, following all safety protocols. The teams contacted the competent authorities and provided the necessary support for the investigation and the work of the forensic team,” the zoo wrote.
“We inform you that Bica will remain closed to visitors until the conclusion of the investigations and official procedures, prioritizing transparency and commitment to the safety of our visitors, employees and animals,” they continued.
The zoo also expressed its condolences to the teen’s family. “Arruda Câmara Park expresses its solidarity with the family of the young man who passed away, deeply regrets the loss, and wishes them strength during this difficult time,” the zoo’s statement continued.
The teen was identified as Gerson de Melo Machado, O Correio Braziliense reported. He reportedly surmounted a wall over 19 feet high to gain access to the animal’s enclosure despite security personnel responding.
Verônica Oliveira, a child welfare counselor who had worked with the teen since he was 10 years old, told O Correio Braziliense he suffered from schizophrenia and had been institutionalized.
“Gerson was a child who suffered all kinds of rights violations. The son of a schizophrenic mother, with grandparents also suffering from mental health issues, he lived in extreme poverty,” she said. “He was 19 years old, but when he spoke, I believe his cognitive ability was no more than that of a 5-year-old.”
The teen also allegedly had run-ins with the law. He threw cobblestones at a police car in one recent incident, Oliveira told the outlet. Prior to his death, the teen dreamed of taming lions on a safari in Africa and once snuck into an aircraft’s landing gear believe it would transport him to the continent before being discovered and turned over to Child Protective Services, she said. (RELATED: Texas Hikers Catch Mountain Lion Staring Them Down In Tense Video)
The lioness who mauled the teen will be watched and evaluated by a technical team in the days to come, according to Folha de S. Paulo.
Oliveira said the teen’s death has caused “enormous pain in my soul,” O Correio Braziliense reported.
