Life in captivity is the worst form of living because every living creature, whether an animal or a human, is meant to be free. Unfortunately, stories of animals who end up spending their lives chained and never get to experience freedom are something we stumble upon way too often.
A mountain lion named Mufasa who ended up at a circus in Peru went through hell after he was forced to spend his days chained up in the back of a pick up truck for 20 years.
Circus animals are often neglected and abused, and Mufasa wasn’t an exception.
Luckily, his suffering came to an end thanks to the animal rights organization Animal Defenders International (ADI)who did all in their power to put an end to Mufasa’s struggles and give him new lease of life.
ADI, founded in 1990 with offices worldwide, runs education and awareness campaigns to protect animals in captivity and the wild. Their work targets animal use in entertainment, sport, fashion, research, and illegal trade. ADI also partners with governments on major rescues and operates a sanctuary in South Africa for nearly 40 ex-circus lions and tigers from Latin America.
When they rescued Mufasa, their goal was in fact to shut the circus down and that’s when they discovered the poor animal.
Taking him out of the circus wasn’t easy, but they succeeded.
Mufasa got to live the way he was always meant to. He experienced freedom and enjoyed the nature, but sadly, his happiness was short-lived. This beautiful lion died of kidney failure just months after he was rescued, but at least he spent his final days as a free animal and got to experience what it meant to be loved and cared for.
No animal deserves to be treated the way Mufasa was. May he rest in peace.
The video about Mufasa triggered many comments from people who condemned the existence of circuses, the places where most animals are treated with cruelty and we people still visit them.
Stop Circus Suffering is ADI’s worldwide campaign to end animal use in circuses. Their investigations have helped shape laws, including Bolivia’s full ban on circus animals, with Colombia and Peru considering similar measures. In the UK, ADI continues to press DEFRA to fulfill its pledge to ban non-domesticated animals in traveling circuses.
However, despite their attempts, it is obvious that we have a long way to go before circuses stop mistreating poor animals whose place belongs in the wild and their natural habitat.
“People, please never ever, ever go to a circus. These are majestic animals and deserve better treatment. Thank you for saving him so he didn’t have to pass away chained in a back of a circus truck or performing,” one person commented under the touching video of Mufasa’s life story.
Another added: “This hurts my heart so much. I wish I was able to help all the suffering animals out there. God bless those who do.” A third person commented, “Sadly a month after released into the sactuary, he passed away due to old age and kidney damage. But damn it, he got to spend a month free from chains and truck fumes! He probably died happy! RIP Mufasa. You are now free to cross that rainbow bridge!”
Someone else added: “20 years in cage and chained…words can’t describe how I feel about it. Rest in peace Mufasa <3 And thank you for saving his life even when you knew he was old, you still put energy on him, God bless you all and all animal lovers around the world, I love you all <3.” For more on this story go to the video below.
