A 19-year-old was mauled to death by a lioness on Sunday after sneaking into the animal’s enclosure in front of visitors at a zoo in Brazil. Gerson de Mela Machado scaled a 20-foot wall and climbed a tree in order to enter the lion’s den at the Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara in João Pessoa, Paraíba, moving too quickly for authorities to apprehend him. While his motives remain unclear, Machado was reported to have severe cognitive difficulties and previously tried sneaking into the landing gear of a flight to Africa to pursue his dream of taming lions. “He was 19 years old, but when he spoke, I believe his cognitive ability was no more than that of a 5-year-old,” child welfare counselor Verônica Oliveira told local news, adding that Machado grew up in “extreme poverty” and had a history of mental health struggles. The zoo was closed following the incident, with authorities reporting that the lioness, Leona, will not be euthanized as a result of the attack. “Leona is healthy, does not exhibit aggressive behavior outside the context of the incident, and will not be euthanized,” the zoo wrote on Instagram. “The Bica team, veterinarians, handlers, and technicians are fully dedicated to Leona’s well-being, ensuring that she is well, stabilizes emotionally, and resumes her routine safely,” they added.
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