An accident in the Arruda Câmara zoo park, also known as Bica Zoo in Brazil, in the tourist town of João Pessoa. A 19-year-old man, identified as Gerson de Melo Machado, known by the alias "Vaqueirinho", died after a lioness attack after illegally trespassing on her runway. The man was obsessed with lions and was convinced that he could train them. The incident, which took place on 30 November 2025, was immortalized on video.

Event Details

According to witness reports and official government communications, Machado climbed the wall and jumped over the barriers protecting the lioness's runway named Leona. Video, published, among others, by account @visegrad24 on X platform, shows the moment when a young man, without a shirt, approaches the glass runway wall and then climbs and enters inside. The film shows a calmly lying lioness who initially does not respond, but is about to attack.

Emergency services, including military police, arrived quickly, however man died from serious injuries at the scene. The zoo was immediately closed to visitors, and authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident. According to Brazilian media, such as G1 portal or international services such as Daily Mail and Express, Machado had a history of violating zoo security. Earlier, he tried to get close to the lions, claiming he wanted to "train" them or obsessed with these animals.. Police also knew him from other incidents, including security violations at the airport.

[FILM] at the moment of entering the runway

Victim background and motivation

Gerson de Melo Machado, a 19-year-old resident of João Pessoa, was known to local police due to repeated attempts to contact wild animals. According to reports from Reddit and Instagram, where the recording quickly gained popularity, Machado believed that he could communicate with or train lions. JEden from Reddita posts in subreddit /r/PublicFreakout describes him as a person with mental problems who ignored warnings. The victim's family has not yet released an official statement, but sources close to the case suggest that a young man may have suffered from disorder, which led him to such a risky behavior.

The Arruda Câmara Zoo, located in the picturesque area of João Pessoa, is a popular destination among tourists and families. The lions' runway is protected by glass walls and fences, but this incident raises questions about the effectiveness of these measures in the face of determined intruders.