After recuperating he was finally ready for a real home, and ADI transferred him to Taricaya Ecological Reserve. The reserve prepared a special enclosure in the Amazon rainforest that will allow Mufasa, who’s unreleasable, to live out his days as close to his natural life as possible.

Photos show him taking his first cautious steps out into his new home, exploring the leaves and bright undergrowth as he finally settles into a place where no one can hurt him.

“Mufasa was torn from the wild and has endured the worst possible life,” Creamer said. “[His] story symbolizes the suffering we have ended.”

Though Mufasa’s story is heartbreaking on its own, he was just one of nearly 100 animals saved during ADI’s rescue operations, including lions, bears, monkeys, birds and a tiger, all of whom were rescued from circuses and are now recovering from their long years of abuse.

ADI will continue their work to free illegal circus animals – even as they appreciate the wonder of watching a 20-year-old mountain lion return to his long-awaited home.

“It is magical to see him moving about in and out of the trees in his own piece of protected forest,” Creamer said.

You can donate to ADI to support Mufasa in his twilight years, and help the group continue to rescue other animals like him.

Watch a video of the rescue below.