It is not appropriate for animals to make their home in the cargo bed of an old, rusting pickup truck. It is especially not a wild cat that has grown up.
As part of the major attraction for a traveling circus in Peru, puma Mufasa was compelled to reside there for twenty years of his life. Unfortunately, this was the exact location where he was forced to live.
It goes without saying that just because an animal is regarded as “exotic” or “cool” does not mean that they should be compelled to spend their entire lives entertaining people. However, it is unfortunate that there are still a great number of living creatures that are utilized in the entertainment sector, as well as in zoos and circuses all over the world.
A significant number of these creatures are compelled to reside in deplorable conditions and in cramped enclosures; some of them are never given the opportunity to experience life in their native settings.
One such animal was the puma Mufasa, which was kept in chains for the purpose of providing humans with amusement. Mountain lions were the name given to pumas by new settlers in North and South America. This was due to the fact that these new settlers assumed the pumas they encountered were actually lionesses.
Since that time, this wonderful feline has achieved a level of notoriety that is comparable to that of a myth, and as a result, a great number of individuals have the urge to witness pumas in genuine life. Consequently, there is a market that traveling circuses may take advantage of, which is sad.
Consider Mufasa as an illustration. It was customary to store him in the cargo bed of an old pickup truck while he was not performing for the general public. During his twenty years as a performer, he was compelled to lead a life that he had never desired.
The final opportunity
Thankfully, things would finally develop in a different way.
The organization Animal Defenders International was able to rescue Mufasa in 2015, after he had been held captive for a considerable amount of time and had been subjected to a great deal of terror. Although it took a significant amount of time and effort, the elderly puma was eventually released into the wild.
During the time that they were fighting to shut down the Peruvian circus where he had been performing for years, the group had been keeping a careful eye on him. In accordance with the organization, Mufasa was the final wild animal to be saved from the circus facilities.
At long last, Mufasa was freed from the burden of living a life marked by fear and uncertainty. Those individuals who were solely interested in using him for financial gain have vanished.
Instead, he was given the opportunity to spend his final years independent of any restrictions. After the life that Mufasa had been through, it was obvious that he could not be put back into the wild. As a result, a sanctuary was constructed for him, and it was designed to be similar to the natural environment of the Peruvian mountain forest.
It was here that he was destined to be; this was the place where he could flourish and take pleasure in the life that he was supposed to have.
Watch the video that is provided below. It is quite remarkable how he reacts when he first experiences the sensation of grass beneath his feet.
Unfortunately, Mufasa passed away in December of 2015, only a few short months after he was finally released from prison. It had taken its toll on him despite the fact that he was locked in the cargo bed of a truck for his whole existence. It was not only kidney failure but also other age-related issues that he struggled with.
We are saddened by the fact that he was unable to have more time to enjoy himself in the forest; but, the true tragedy would have been if he had never been allowed to experience life outside of the circus at all.
The story of Mufasa serves as a powerful reminder to all of us as to why we should never permit animals to spend their entire lives chained up and displayed for the sole purpose of providing human entertainment. This is what I say: let animals be animals!