A young man killed when a lioness’ enclosure was broken into in João Pessoa had suffered from schizophrenia and a history of weakness

A man breaks into a lioness’ cage at the Joao Pessoa Zoo and dies after the attack:

The man who died after breaking into a lioness’s cage at the Arruda Camara Zoo, in João Pessoa, on Sunday morning, 30, has been identified as Gerson de Melo Machado, known as “Vaquerinho”, aged 19.

Guardianship advisor Veronica Oliveira, who has accompanied the young man since childhood, reported that Gerson had schizophrenia and had received care from the guardianship board since he was a child, when he escaped from an asylum in Piedras de Fogo, inside Paraíba.

The young man arrived at the shelter when he was ten years old after being deprived of his mother, who also suffers from schizophrenia and was unable to care for her children. In addition, four other siblings have been put up for adoption. Gerson was never adopted.

Over the years, Gerson spent stints in the police and social and educational centres. According to the Civil Police, he was released last Friday, the 28th, after trying to damage ATMs in the Mangabeira neighborhood of João Pessoa. Shortly after his release, he was arrested again on charges of throwing stones at a military police vehicle near the Central de Flagrante. Reports collected by authorities indicate that he said he wanted to be arrested because he was hungry and had no place to sleep.

The counselor said that the young man had always dreamed of lions and Africa. He stated that “Gerson always dreamed of going to Africa to tame lions.” In one of the most extreme incidents of the situation, he was found hiding in the landing gear of a plane he believed was headed to the African continent.

On Sunday, he climbed the side frame of lioness Leona’s cage, entered the space and was fatally attacked. According to the consultant, the team tried several times to make Gerson’s report official, but the young man’s condition was only recorded as “behavioral problems,” which prevented him from receiving proper treatment.