Gerson de Melo Machado, 19, who died on Sunday (30/11), after breaking into the enclosure of a lioness at a zoo in João Pessoa (PB), suffering from untreated mental disorders, jumped a 6-meter high wall and entered the animal’s restricted area. the Capitals He spoke to experts to find out the reasons for animal attacks on these occasions.
The accident occurred in Parque Arruda Camara, known as Parque da Bica. In addition to jumping over the wall, the boy had passed through security bars using a tree as support before breaking into the lioness’s enclosure. Perhaps Gerson’s dream of going to Africa to “tame lions” was one of the reasons that prompted him to enter the prohibited area and get close to the animal.
Read also
-
Tasio Laurent
Killed by a lioness: The judge ordered the man to be hospitalized 30 days before the tragedy
-
Brazil
She was killed by a lioness: The prison director warns of a “declared tragedy”
-
Brazil
PB: Lioness who killed 19-year-old girl at zoo will not be euthanized
-
Brazil
Veterinarian shows obedient relationship with lioness who killed boy: ‘She is not evil’
Cassia Vieira, veterinarian and professor of animal behavior and animal welfare at the Veterinary Medicine course at the Catholic University of Brasilia (UCB), explains that the lioness acted in defense of integrity.
5 photos
Conditional closure.
1 of 5
Gerson de Mello Machado, vaqueríño, killed by a lioness in João Pessoa, after breaking into the animal’s cage
Cloning/PMPB2 of 5
Guardianship Counsel Veronica Oliveira along with Gerson de Mello Machado, known as Vaquerinho
Personal archive/materials submitted to Metropoles3 of 5
The lioness that attacked the young man in Joao Pessoa
Materials submitted to Metropoles4 of 5
A man breaks into a cage and is killed by a lioness in João Pessoa
Reproduction 5 out of 5
A vet shows docile reaction to the lioness that killed a man at the zoo
clone/melleite.vet
“When this man enters the enclosure, the lioness feels that she has no way to escape. She has nowhere to go, so she needs to defend herself. It is a threat, a reaction due to fear and feeling threatened. The second point and possibility is to defend the territory. So, wherever there is a place where they live and take care of their cubs, they will defend them from any threat,” says Kasia.
What happened?
- A 19-year-old boy named Gerson de Melo Machado died after breaking into a lioness’ cage in João Pessoa, Paraíba.
- Pictures circulated on social media record the moment of the invasion. In the video, you can see the man climbing the side structure of the cage.
- He uses a tree trunk located inside the fence as support to finally enter the place where the lioness was.
- After invading the place, the animal attacked him.
- Gerson suffered from mental disorders. He had 16 police tickets, mostly for damage and petty theft.
The expert added that based on the apparent characteristics, what might have motivated the animal to attack a human was “extreme fear, in a state of stress.”
This emotional state in the animal generates symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, panting, and hypervigilance. These effects are activated when the lioness feels trapped and stressed, and therefore has no chance to escape.
“When an animal senses the presence of a human nearby, the reaction of these zoo animals, who have been there for a long time, and who are already accustomed to their enclosure, is to try to escape. Since this animal cannot escape inside an enclosure, it will defend itself. How does it defend itself? By attacking. So, not only to defend the territory, but also because it protects its life. Because of the fear of fight or flight,” says Professor Casia Vieira.
Parque da Pica reported that the lioness, nicknamed Leona by zoo staff, had been exposed to a “high level of stress” and that the animal was in good health and was being kept under constant observation and monitoring. She also informed the institution that she would not be subjected to euthanasia.
Leona is doing well despite the stress
The zoo’s veterinarian, Thiago Neri, said that Leona, despite the stress, was “fine and calm” after the accident. He stated that the animal also went into shock after feeling threatened, and that after the animal went to the “extra barn” at the zoo, the veterinary team was able to monitor it better.
The Civil Police of Paraíba is investigating the case and awaiting expert examination.