A decade ago we all might have loved seeing animals in a circus, but with the rise of social media and communication technology, we learn everyday of how such animals are kept in deplorable conditions. Somehow the animals aren’t appealing anymore and it would be much better watching them roam free in the wild.
Mufasa the mountain Lion is one such animal that was released into the wild in September 2015 subsequent to being freed earlier in that year after a standoff between authorities and a Peruvian circus.
1Chained and languishing in the back of a rusty pickup truck
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Peru is one country where circus animals are banned. Thanks to the organization called Animal Defenders International (ADI), hundreds of animals were tracked down and released. Mufasa the mountain lion was the last circus animal released from captivity. Mufasa had been chained for almost twenty years in the back of a ramshackeled pickup truck in a deplorable condition.
Mufasa’s release made headline news as his releases was a big dramatic showdown between the circus and authorities.
Image Source: www.independent.co.uk
2Released after an eight hour standoff
Mufasa the mountain lion was one of the prized exhibits of Peruvian circus Circo Koreander which moved throughout remote villages. Mufasa was kept in the truck with rusting circus equipment. He was heavily chained with a harness around his back.
His freedom came after a showdown between police and ADI on one side with circus members on the other. The 8 hour standoff resulted in riot police freeing Mufasa into the care of ADI who transported him to ‘Spirit of freedom, The organization’s rescue center in Lima. The ADI rescue team was led by President Jan Creamer who described Mufasa’s condition.
Image Source: www.express.co.uk
3And finally freedom for Mufasa
In September Mufasa the mountain lion was finally released into the wild in the Tambopata reserve located in the Amazonian rainforests of Southeastern Peru. The Mountain lion was torn away from his natural habitat as a cub.
Says Creamer “It is magical to see him moving about in and out of the trees in his own piece of protected forest. Since their operations commenced, more than a 100 animals have been freed and released into the Amazon wild by ADI.17 countries. Watch the incredible video of how Mufasa was released.