I have a deep affection for animals, and it breaks my heart to think that a mountain lion—especially one as majestic as Mufasa—would be tied in a truck bed.

That, regrettably, was Mufasa’s world. He was compelled to live a wretched life as a traveling circus act in Peru in order to entertain the public and make money for his owner.

Thankfully, animal rights activists arose as a ray of hope.

There are still many animals in zoos, circuses, and performances that are abused or neglected. Even though there have been notable advancements recently, more work remains. Many species are denied the life they deserve and kept in small quarters.

The amazing mountain lion Mufasa was found in Peru tethered to a pickup vehicle. He spent a torturous twenty years trapped in a life he never desired.

Though his freedom came later in life, it arrived nonetheless. In 2015, after months of dedicated effort, Animal Defenders International, an animal rights organization, secured his release. They encountered Mufasa while shutting down a Peruvian circus. Freedom had a profound impact on Mufasa’s well-being. He was finally free from the shackles of anxiety and oppression, experiencing the fundamental right all wild creatures deserve – to roam free in their natural habitat and live on their own terms. Mufasa’s rescue story is heartwarming, and the video below captures his first steps towards freedom – a truly beautiful moment!

Tragically, after his rescue, Mufasa’s health, compromised by twenty years of captivity, began to decline. He succumbed to kidney failure and other age-related issues in 2015, according to Animal Defenders International. Yet, his story serves as a powerful reminder. Mufasa, a gentle giant who loved a good scratch, may not have had a longer time in the Amazon rainforest, but his brief taste of freedom is far preferable to a lifetime of captivity. No animal should ever endure what Mufasa did.