Viral videos captured the moment the lioness, Leona, spotted Machado descending the tree, charged at him, and dragged him to the ground as horrified visitors looked on. Witnesses can be heard shouting “my God!” as the teenager briefly reappears before disappearing into the undergrowth. Officials said he “died from injuries caused by the animal”.

The zoo called the incident “extremely sad” and shut its premises while investigations continue. In a statement, it said it follows rigorous safety standards and is cooperating with authorities. In a separate clarification, zoo officials stressed that “euthanasia was never considered” for Leona, who they said displayed no aggression beyond the immediate context.

Veterinarian Thiago Nery defended the enclosure’s design, noting more than eight metres of protective barriers and calling the intrusion “completely unforeseeable”. Initial findings by the municipal government suggest the teen’s actions may have been a possible suicide attempt.

A child protection counsellor who had worked with Machado for eight years said he had endured a troubled upbringing and required treatment that he never received. She added that he once attempted to stow away on an aircraft in pursuit of a dream of becoming a lion tamer.

Fatal lion attacks at zoos are exceptionally rare but not unprecedented. CBS reported this is the second such death in less than three months, following recent incidents in Thailand, Crimea, and the United States.