THIS is the shocking moment a teen broke into a lion closure at a Brazilian Zoo – before meeting a tragic end.
Gerson Machado, 19, had previously tried to reach Africa as a plane stowaway to pursue his dream of training big cats.
Horror footage shows the moment the lioness – who zoo vets later described as “stressed” and “in shock” – pounced as he reached the ground.
Gerson, who grew up in care and battled serious mental health issues, had spent years telling social workers about his dream of living among Africa’s big cats.
Child protection worker Veronica Oliveira, who supported him for eight years, said he endured a childhood marked by extreme poverty and a family history of mental illness.
She said: “Gerson was a child who had his rights violated. He grew up without the support he needed. His biggest dream was to go to Africa to look after lions.”
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