Mountain lions are mostly solitary and secretive animals who roam large territories and prefer to avoid humans if possible. The intelligent big cats are built to live in the wild and ones who have been forced into captivity often suffer mentally, emotionally, and physically. For a mountain lion named Mufasa, a life in chains was all he ever knew. His sad story sheds light on how terrible the traveling circus industry treats animals, but thankfully there is a happy ending for Mufasa, and hope for others out there like him.
For the past 20 years the back of an old rusty pickup truck was where Mufasa lived as part of a traveling roadside circus in Peru. While details of his early life remain mostly a mystery, it’s believed that he was originally born free somewhere in the South American wilderness. Soon after that he was likely stolen away from his mother when he was still a very young cub and then sold into captivity.
For years he was mistreated, gawked at, and kept bound up in heavy metal chains that made movement difficult. Life was anything but natural or comfortable for the full grown lion. He was brought from one town to the next in the back of a beat up truck, where he was further chained to old rusty pieces of equipment. There was barely any room for him to move around, no bed or clean spot to lay on, only a dusty corner surrounded by dirt and metal bars. There wasn’t even a simple shelter over his head to protect against the elements. The hot sun and pouring rain beat down on him day after day and the horrible, neglected state he was being held in was both shocking and sad.
The traveling circus Mufasa was found with was believed to be the last of its kind in Peru. The country changed the law recently and passed a circus animal ban that made it illegal to keep or use animals in circus shows. It was intended to help put an end to the abusive, cruel, and inhumane conditions the majority of all circus animals are kept in and authorities were serious about enforcing it. Animal advocacy non-profit groups were helping every step of the way, including Animal Defenders International (ADI).
ADI had received a tip that a circus was still holding onto a mountain lion and so they accompanied police and local wildlife officials to investigate it. That’s when they found Mufasa, sitting in the back of the truck chained up. A tense 8-hour standoff ensued, the circus owner refused to give up the big cat, but in the end he gave in and surrendered Mufasa.
This video captures the moment the lion was finally released and freed from the heavy chains that had been weighing him down all his life. You can’t help but get a little emotional when you see the now elderly lion sitting there quietly as he waits patiently for his harness to be cut off. He doesn’t act aggressive or angry like a real wild cat would, he’s so unnaturally calm and subdued, like he’s been beaten down. With the chains now off, he’s free to stand up and stretch out for perhaps the first time in his life unimpeded by something.
Thanks to the help and support of everyone involved, from wildlife officials to tipsters and volunteers who had worked tirelessly to track down and free circus animal all across Peru, Mufasa was getting a new lease on life. He was first transported to a rescue and rehab center run by ADI called the Spirit of Freedom where he was checked out and deemed healthy enough to travel. From there he began a 3 day journey into the Amazon rain forest where his new home awaited him.
The Tambopata Reserve is where Mufasa will live out the rest of his life. He is free to wander about his new habitat completely unchained and no longer faces a life full of uncertainty, constant travel, and mistreatment. Instead, he can now spend the final few years of his life in the wild jungle where he’s protected and well taken care of. He can move about freely on his own, sleep in the shade or under a canopy, and there’s no one there to stare and gawk at him. At the very least, he will have some sense of normalcy and his story will hopefully inspire more changes and people to action. Please help pass this story on and raise further awareness of what animals kept in circuses and for entertainment purposes around the world face.
For the past 20 years the back of an old rusty pickup truck was where Mufasa lived as part of a traveling roadside circus in Peru. While details of his early life remain mostly a mystery, it’s believed that he was originally born free somewhere in the South American wilderness. Soon after that he was likely stolen away from his mother when he was still a very young cub and then sold into captivity.
For years he was mistreated, gawked at, and kept bound up in heavy metal chains that made movement difficult. Life was anything but natural or comfortable for the full grown lion. He was brought from one town to the next in the back of a beat up truck, where he was further chained to old rusty pieces of equipment. There was barely any room for him to move around, no bed or clean spot to lay on, only a dusty corner surrounded by dirt and metal bars. There wasn’t even a simple shelter over his head to protect against the elements. The hot sun and pouring rain beat down on him day after day and the horrible, neglected state he was being held in was both shocking and sad.
The traveling circus Mufasa was found with was believed to be the last of its kind in Peru. The country changed the law recently and passed a circus animal ban that made it illegal to keep or use animals in circus shows. It was intended to help put an end to the abusive, cruel, and inhumane conditions the majority of all circus animals are kept in and authorities were serious about enforcing it. Animal advocacy non-profit groups were helping every step of the way, including Animal Defenders International (ADI).
ADI had received a tip that a circus was still holding onto a mountain lion and so they accompanied police and local wildlife officials to investigate it. That’s when they found Mufasa, sitting in the back of the truck chained up. A tense 8-hour standoff ensued, the circus owner refused to give up the big cat, but in the end he gave in and surrendered Mufasa.
This video captures the moment the lion was finally released and freed from the heavy chains that had been weighing him down all his life. You can’t help but get a little emotional when you see the now elderly lion sitting there quietly as he waits patiently for his harness to be cut off. He doesn’t act aggressive or angry like a real wild cat would, he’s so unnaturally calm and subdued, like he’s been beaten down. With the chains now off, he’s free to stand up and stretch out for perhaps the first time in his life unimpeded by something.
Thanks to the help and support of everyone involved, from wildlife officials to tipsters and volunteers who had worked tirelessly to track down and free circus animal all across Peru, Mufasa was getting a new lease on life. He was first transported to a rescue and rehab center run by ADI called the Spirit of Freedom where he was checked out and deemed healthy enough to travel. From there he began a 3 day journey into the Amazon rain forest where his new home awaited him.
The Tambopata Reserve is where Mufasa will live out the rest of his life. He is free to wander about his new habitat completely unchained and no longer faces a life full of uncertainty, constant travel, and mistreatment. Instead, he can now spend the final few years of his life in the wild jungle where he’s protected and well taken care of. He can move about freely on his own, sleep in the shade or under a canopy, and there’s no one there to stare and gawk at him. At the very least, he will have some sense of normalcy and his story will hopefully inspire more changes and people to action. Please help pass this story on and raise further awareness of what animals kept in circuses and for entertainment purposes around the world face.
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