The Arruda Câmara zoobotanical park, where a lioness killed a young man on November 30, will reopen this Thursday (18). The place, known as Bica, will follow new security and management measures, according to a press release from João Pessoa City Hall.
The space was closed after Gerson de Melo Machado, 19, scaled a six-meter wall and invaded the cage of the animal that killed him. The boy suffered from mental disorders and dreamed of caring for lions in Africa, according to a report published on social media by guardianship counselor Verônica Oliveira.
Among the actions undertaken are the strengthening of physical protective barriers, the rearrangement of visit routes, the strengthening of permanent surveillance, the definition of protocols for wild animal enclosures – particularly felines – and the improvement of animal management and welfare routines. These changes are the result of investigations carried out by regulatory bodies.
The Municipality’s Environmental Secretariat prepared the recovery plan based on directives from the Paraíba Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Special Committee of the Municipal Council, the Superintendence of Environmental Administration, Health Surveillance and the Metropolitan Civil Guard.
Opening hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The documents published by the town hall hide specific information about the lioness.
According to the UOL, the animal will have a specific protocol, with access criteria to its area. However, management did not specify whether it would be possible to see the lioness on Thursday.
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