Zoo Safety

Youth with mental health history dies invading lioness enclosure

November 30, 2025 Ti AI ṣe iroyin Àwòrán tí AI ṣe

Gerson de Melo Machado, 19, was killed by a lioness after invading the enclosure at a zoo in João Pessoa, Paraíba, on Sunday (November 30). The youth, known as 'Vaqueirinho', had untreated mental health issues and a persistent dream of caring for lions in Africa. His death highlights a life marked by family abandonment and extreme vulnerability.