Lioness who killed man in Joao Pessoa was ‘in shock’ and ‘stressed’, vet says

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

The lioness that attacked and killed a man after he broke into her cage in the Arruda Camara Park, in João Pessoa, was subjected to severe stress and shock, according to the park’s veterinarian, Thiago Neri, who is following up on the animal’s condition with the technical team.

According to Neri, containing the lioness was possible thanks to prior training, which allowed the situation to be controlled without the use of firearms or tranquilizer darts. “There was obviously a delay because the animal was very stressed, and also in shock,” the vet explained.

The lioness is being monitored by veterinarians, biologists and animal husbandry specialists, and the monitoring is scheduled to continue in the coming weeks.

The management of Parque Arruda Cámara said in a statement that the venue follows strict security standards and classified the incident as a “completely unpredictable incident.”

He said in a statement: “Pika has always followed strict safety standards in its enclosures. The lioness’s enclosure is more than 8 meters high, and reinforced fences and all technical barriers have been provided to ensure the protection of the animals and visitors. What happened was a completely unexpected incident, outside of any scenario within the zoo’s routine.”

He concluded: “After all the necessary assistance, the lioness is healthy and calm. However, after she went through a moment of extreme stress, she will be monitored and evaluated over the next few days, and will receive all the care from the technical team. The management promotes a permanent commitment to animal welfare, responsibility in managing the park and transparency in all procedures. The focus continues to be on ensuring the safety, conservation and care of every life under our protection.”

The identity of the victim has not been released at this time. According to TV Cabo Branco, the man was suffering from mental disorders.