Gerson de Melo Machado, known as ‘Vaquerinho’, had been arrested twice in the week before his death
A man died last Sunday (30) after breaking into a cage at the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park, known as Bica, in João Pessoa, Paraíba. The 19-year-old was attacked and did not resist. Gerson de Melo Machado was known as “Vaquerinho”, and had a history of mental disorders and was arrested more than 10 times, according to the local press. He was arrested last week for damaging ATMs in Mangabeira. He was later arrested for throwing stones at a police vehicle near Central de Flagrantes. He was released on the 28th, two days before the incident.
Verônica Oliveira, a guardianship counselor who monitored the young man, released a note about him.
“It’s been eight years following you, fighting and fighting to guarantee your rights. When you entered my office for the first time, you were only 10 years old. Counselor Patrícia Falcão and I received you from the hands of the PRF, found alone in BR. Since then, the entire Protection Network looked for me whenever something happened to you.”, says the text.
The note also states that on another occasion “the airport warned me that you had cut through the fence and entered the landing gear of a Gol plane. Thank God, they watched on camera before a tragedy happened.”
Verônica continued saying that Gerson was a “child deprived of his mother’s family power, prevented from being adopted like the other four brothers. You just wanted to go back to being your mother’s son, who is schizophrenic and incapable of care.”
See the note from the city hall:
“The City of João Pessoa, through the Secretariat of the Environment (Semam), informs that, on the morning of this Sunday (30), an as yet unidentified man deliberately invaded the lioness’ enclosure in the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park (Bica). Quickly and surprisingly, he climbed a wall of more than 6 meters, the security fences, accessed one of the trees and invaded the enclosure.
According to Civil Police expertise, the man acted in a possible act of suicide. Although security teams tried to prevent the action, the man acted quickly to access the enclosure and died as a result of the injuries caused by the animal.
As soon as the incident was discovered, the park was immediately closed for security procedures and removal of the body. Semam has already started investigating the circumstances of the incident and is collaborating with the competent authorities.
The City Hall sympathizes with the victim’s family and clarifies that, despite all existing security, which meets technical standards, the man insisted on the invasion, culminating in this regrettable episode.”
See Bica’s full note:
“The Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park (Bica) deeply regrets what happened this Sunday morning (30), when a man deliberately invaded the lioness’ enclosure, resulting in his death. This is an extremely sad episode for everyone, and we express our solidarity and feelings to the family and friends of the man, who has not yet been identified.
As soon as the incident was discovered, the park was immediately closed, following all safety protocols. The teams contacted the competent authorities and provided the necessary support for assistance and forensic work.
We inform you that Bica will remain closed to visitors until the conclusion of investigations and official procedures, valuing transparency and commitment to the safety of our visitors, employees and animals.
We reinforce that the park follows strict technical regulations and safety standards, and we are fully collaborating with all responsible bodies to clarify the facts.”
