A teenager was mauled to death by a lioness after sneaking into the animal’s pen in front of fellow visitors at a zoo in Brazil.

On Sunday, Nov. 30, Gerson de Melo Machado climbed a wall about 20 feet high to break into the big cat’s enclosure at Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara in João Pessoa, Paraíba, local news outlets O Correio Brazilense, O Globo and Folha de São Paulo reported.

The botanical zoo, which is home to hundreds of animal species, confirmed Machado, 19, was mauled to death in a news release shared on Instagram.

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“Once the incident was confirmed, the park was immediately closed, following all safety protocols,” the zoo wrote. “The teams mobilized the competent authorities and provided the necessary support for the service and work of the experts.”

Lion (stock image).ary mattos/Getty

The zoo announced that it would remain closed amid the ongoing investigation into the incident, while reassuring visitors that it has “strict” safety standards.

“The Arruda Câmara Park is in solidarity with the family of the boy who passed away, deeply regrets the loss and wishes strength at this difficult time,” the news release concluded.

The zoo’s security team allegedly attempted to stop Machado as he climbed into the lioness’ enclosure, but he moved too quickly, O Correio Brazilense reported, citing a statement from the City Hall of João Pessoa. The state’s Civil Police forensics team has not yet ruled out that his actions may have been suicidal.

Machado had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been in several institutions, per O Correio Brazilense. He came from a family with a history of mental health issues and grew up in “extreme poverty.”

Child welfare counselor Verônica Oliveira told the outlet that all four of his siblings were adopted except for him when they were removed from their mother’s custody and placed for adoption while he was still very young.

He went on to have several run-ins with the police throughout the years, having begun to steal in his childhood. Just last week, Machado allegedly came to Oliveria for help with seeking employment after being released from prison.

“He was 19 years old, but when he spoke, I believe his cognitive ability was no more than that of a 5-year-old,” Oliveria told O Correio Brazilense. 

She recalled that Machado previously snuck into the landing gear of a plane heading towards Africa in pursuit of his dream to tame lions, but was detected and referred to the Child Protective Services at the airport.

“Gerson is the result of a system that always excluded him; he’s been caged for years. Today was the culmination of a ‘Chronicle of a Death Foretold,’ ” Olivieria told the outlet of his death. “I hope the lesson remains and that the countless Gersons we care for every day have a happier ending. My feeling is one of total powerlessness, and this feeling causes enormous pain in my soul.”

Lioness (stock image).jamesphillips/Getty

Following Machado’s death, Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara shared an update on the lioness in a news release on Instagram.

“Leona, the lioness at Arruda Câmara Park, is doing well and will continue to receive all necessary care,” the zoo wrote. “After the incident, she was immediately evaluated by the technical team and remains under continuous observation and monitoring, as she experienced a high level of stress.”

“It is important to emphasize that euthanasia was never considered,” the zoo continued. “Leona is healthy, does not exhibit aggressive behavior outside the context of the incident, and will not be euthanized. The protocol in situations like this provides exactly what is being done: monitoring, behavioral assessment, and specialized care.

“The Bica team, veterinarians, handlers, and technicians are fully dedicated to Leona’s well-being, ensuring that she recovers, stabilizes emotionally, and resumes her routine safely,” the zoo concluded.