A tragic event with fatal consequences shook the city of João Pessoa, the capital of the state of Paraíba in Brazil, when a young man lost his life after being attacked by a lioness after voluntarily and unauthorized entering the feline's cage. The tragedy occurred on the morning of Sunday, November 30, 2025, at the zoo of Parque Arruda Câmara, popularly known as "A Bica", located in the Roger neighborhood of João Pessoa, according to the Argentine News Agency. The deceased was identified as a 19-year-old youth (although his name was not immediately released by the authorities), who lost his life almost instantly after the attack. The feline involved in the attack is a lioness, whose age and name were not specified in the initial reports, but whose reaction is considered natural due to the intrusion into its private habitat. According to sources from the João Pessoa Prefecture, the young man bypassed the perimeter security barriers and entered the restricted protection area surrounding the moat and the lion's enclosure and managed to enter directly into the cage where the big cats were. The lioness, surprised and stressed by the presence of a human in its territory, reacted violently. Security footage is being analyzed and staff is being interrogated to determine if there were failures in surveillance protocols or in the security infrastructure of the premises. The João Pessoa Prefecture, in its official statement, emphasized that the space complies with the current technical and safety regulations for zoos. Parque Arruda Câmara was immediately closed after the attack and will remain closed to the public until further notice, while the expert examinations are carried out and additional measures are evaluated to ensure safety. The institution deeply regretted what happened and expressed its solidarity with the victim's family, confirming that they will provide the necessary support. The tragedy highlights the inherent danger of captive wildlife and underscores the critical importance of respecting safety barriers in such facilities. "Agency NA". The attack was fatal and quick, causing the death of the young man. The zoo staff, who tried to intervene immediately, could not prevent the tragic outcome. Local authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the case. The local police are investigating the exact circumstances that motivated the man to decide to enter the enclosure.
